The court of cassation annulled on Saturday a five-year jail sentence issued against former Shura Council speaker Safwat el-Sherif and his son Ehab and ordered retrial.

They are accused of profiteering and influence peddling.

Sherif and Ehab turned themselves in to police early Saturday ahead of the trial.

According to investigations, Sherif, once secretary general for the now-dissolved National Democratic Party, has earned an ill-gotten fortune of EGP 300 million, abusing the posts he held during the ruling of former president Hosni Mubarak, including head of the State Information Service, head of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union, information minister and Shura Council speaker.

He bought vacant plots, agricultural lands, villas and apartments in several areas nationwide, most of which were state-owned, at trifling prices.

He also received gifts worth EGP 3.5 million from chief editors of national press institutions to let them keep their posts.

Source: MENA