EGYPT'S FORMER PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN REFERRED TO COURT

Former spokesman for Egypt Presidency Yasser Ali (Photo: Reuters) — **Yasser Ali, former presidential spokesman for ousted President Morsi, will face legal charges, including aiding former premier Hisham Qandil to evade authorities.**(Photo: ahramonline/Reuters)

Gaza, 28 Shawwal 1435/24 August 2014 (MINA) – Former presidential spokesman Yasser Ali and 12 other defendants have been referred to court on accusation of aiding former Prime Minister Hisham Qandil ‘to escape’, and for being part of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Ali was the presidential spokesman under ousted President Mohamed Morsi. He was a Muslim Brotherhood member and a former spokesperson for its political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party.

During investigations, the prosecution confronted Ali with testimonies of Qandil and others that reveal that he has aided them to escape authorities, ahramonline quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

In September 2013, Cairo Misdemeanour Court upheld a ruling against Qandil sentencing him to one year in prison for failing to implement an Administrative Court verdict ordering the re-nationalisation of the Tanta Flax and Oil Company.

Qandil was released in July on appeal, with his jail sentence quashed.

Ali resigned from his post as spokesman in February 2013, saying he felt the media was attacking him personally.

After his resignation, he announced that he would work for the Cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Centre (IDSC).(T/R04/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)