Story highlights
Egypt's former Information Minister Anas El Fiki is jailed for seven years
The former chief executive of Egypt's state TV is sent to prison for five years
El Fiki was charged over his actions regarding broadcasting rights for soccer
Egypt’s former Information Minister Anas El Fiki has been sentenced to seven years in prison for squandering public funds, a spokesman for the general prosecutor said Wednesday.
Osama El Sheikh, the former chief executive of Egypt’s state TV network, was also sentenced to five years in prison on corruption charges, said the prosecutor’s spokesman, Adel Saeed.
El Fiki was charged with purposely harming the interests of the Radio and Television Union by waiving fees for local private sports channels to broadcast the Egyptian Soccer League for the 2009 and 2010 seasons, plus the beginning of the 2011 season.
The losses amounted to 10 million Egyptian pounds ($1.67 million), from what is considered one of the major sources of income for the union.
The union also incurs the cost of production and the equipment needed to broadcast the matches.
The Egyptian Football Association has issued state TV exclusive rights to broadcast the matches and ownership of the broadcasting rights.
CNN’s Mohamed Fadel Fahmy contributed to this report.