Egypt has issued a travel ban against former presidential rival and candidate Ahmed Shafiq.
An investigation was launched against Shafiq, a former air force officer with close ties to Egypt’s powerful military, and his name was placed on a watch list at border checkpoints on Wednesday.
Shafiq, who served as the final prime minister in the government of former President Hosni Mubarak, is being targeted in an investigation for alleged corruption, sources said. He left Egypt and traveled to the United Arab Emirates shortly after his winning rival in the presidential race, Mohammed Morsi, was declared president in June of this year, according to Middle East Online.
According to Judge Osama el-Saeidy, an “investigative judge” put Shafiq’s name on the list “based on investigations over his illegal allocation of 40,000 square meters of land… to Alaa and Gamal Mubarak,” the sons of deposed former President Hosni Mubarak. Both were imprisoned along with their father on corruption charges as a result of the January 25 revolution that toppled Mubarak in 2011. They each carry British citizenship as well as Egyptian nationality, due to their mother’s half-British parentage.
Shafiq’s spokesman said at the time the former prime minister left Egypt that he would return and form a party. However, a source said it was unclear what would happen to Shafiq if he returned. In the past, people placed on the country’s watchlist have been detained upon arrival.