AhlulBayt News Agency

source : Al-Masry Al-Youm
Thursday

17 February 2011

8:30:00 PM
227033

Mubarak's assets not frozen in EU

Egypt's foreign ministry has not requested the EU to freeze the assets of ousted president Hosni Mubarak and his family members, an EU source says.

(AhlulBayt News Agency) - The source, who requested anonymity, said on Friday that the freezing list issued by the foreign ministry only included the assets of former Egyptian officials and ministers.

British Foreign Minister William Hague told the parliament on Tuesday that they had received a request from Egyptian government to freeze the assets of several Egyptian ex-officials.

This request had also been confirmed by Bernard Valero, the French foreign ministry spokesman.

Meanwhile, a US finance official has claimed that tracking down assets and properties of Mubarak and his family is very difficult.

Another banking official said that only Mubarak's assets in American banks can be detected.

Mubarak's financial advisors have reportedly moved his family assets from European banks to institutions in the Gulf region following an announcement by the Swiss government that they would move to freeze his bank accounts.

Egyptian anti-corruption campaigners pressed the public prosecutor on Thursday to launch a probe into the assets of Mubarak and his family, saying this is the "single largest plot against Egypt's wealth by one family."

The fortunes of the ousted despot and his family are speculated to reach some 70 billion dollars.

Four former Egyptian senior officials, including three ministers, were arrested on Thursday in Egypt for allegations of abusing power and money-laundering.

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