Egyptian court acquits 2 Mubarak-era ministers

CAIRO, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian court acquitted on Wednesday two former ministers over corruption charges, state-run MENA news agency reported.

The two tourism ministers, Ahmed al-Maghrabi and Zohair Garana, who served under former President Hosni Mubarak before his ouster in February 2011, were accused of profiteering and facilitating the seizure of state-owned lands in Red Sea city of Hurghada.

Wednesday's ruling of the Cairo criminal court can be appealed.

In November, the Court of Cassation had annulled a previous ruling acquitting the two former ministers of all charges in the case.

Maghrabi and Garana stood trial again after the prosecution said the first ruling was marred by legal problems.

The prosecution had revealed that Maghrabi, who had served as tourism minister before taking up duties of the Housing Ministry, allotted a state-owned plot of land in Hurghada at a very low price to a company owned by Garana to establish tourist projects.

Mubarak and most of his regime men, including his two sons Gamal and Alaa, have been in custody following the January 2011 uprising, yet they have eventually been acquitted in retrials over charges including corruption, illicit gains and responsibility for killing peaceful protesters.

Mubarak's senior security officials have also been cleared of responsibility for the killing of hundreds of protesters during the 2011 uprising. Enditem