Mubarak era business tycoon offers LE4.6 bn for reconciliation with government

Egyptian business tycoon Hussein Salem sent on Sunday a request to the country's premier to pay the government LE4.6 billion (half his fortune valued at LE8 billion) in exchange for reaching a reconciliation, his lawyer Mahmoud Kebeish told Ahram Online.

Hussam Qawich, a cabinet spokesman, was not able to confirm or deny the reception of the request, pointing out that in such a case the government would have to first conduct a legal investigation.

According to Kebeish, article 18 of the criminal court allows the country’s premier to create a reconciliation committee if a defendant or his lawyer request it.

Salem escaped from Egypt following the eruption of a popular uprising in 2011 that ousted long time autocrat Hosni Mubarak. He currently resides in Spain, where he holds citizenship.