Egypt court acquits founder of new Library of Alexandria
Egypt court acquits founder of new Library of Alexandria
An Egyptian court has acquitted the founding director of the new Library of Alexandria, overturning a three-and-a-half year sentence on charges of squandering public funds.
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The court overturns a three-and-a-half year sentence on charges of squandering public funds [Getty]
An Egyptian court has acquitted the founding director of the new Library of Alexandria, overturning a three-and-a-half year sentence on charges of squandering public funds.
The state-run Al-Ahram newspaper reported the acquittal of Ismail Serrag el-Din on Tuesday.
Library employees had accused him of wasting 20 million Egyptian pounds (about $1.12 million) by paying hefty salaries to top advisers and privately traveling abroad at the library’s expense.
Scores of Egyptian former ministers, state officials and diplomats had expressed support for Serrag el-Din, including former Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa.
The new Library of Alexandria, officially known as the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, was inaugurated in 2002. It is currently headed by Mostafa el-Feki.
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