Former Finance Minister released over asylum status

Former Egyptian finance minister Youssef Boutros Ghali cannot be handed over to Egypt because of his UK-based political asylum status, Director of Egypt's Interpol told the state-owned news agency MENA on Tuesday.

Magdi Shafei said that Ghali presented his UK-based asylum status after he was arrested in France.

Ghali was arrested during his visit to Paris on Monday on an international warrant over corruption charges as the Interpol issued a red notice against him.

He was sentenced in absentia to 30 years in prison on charges of money laundering, illegal profiteering and wasting public funds last year.