Two former Cabinet members held in Egypt corruption probe

Two former Cabinet ministers and a tycoon once prominent in Egypt’s ruling party have been arrested on suspicion of corruption.

They are former housing minister Ahmed Maghrabi, ex-tourism minister Zuheir Garana and Ahmed Ezz, a steel tycoon who was a leader in the ruling party led by ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

Officials said yesterday the three would be held for 15 days pending the completion of a probe into the corruption allegations.

They had previously been banned from travel abroad and had their assets frozen, measures which are normally a prelude to a criminal investigation and a possible trial.