Egypt prevents Al-Ahram editor from leaving the country

Security authorities at the Cairo International Airport have banned the Editor-in-Chief of Al-Ahram Al-Massai from traveling following a request from a judge.

A source from the airport said that Alaa Thabet was set to board an Etihad airlines flight to Abu Dhabi yesterday but a judge prevented him from traveling.

Thabet is now being interrogated by Judge Tharwat Hammad, the head of the Cairo Court of Appeals, over charges of embezzling public funds.

He is accused of abusing his position at the state-owned Al-Ahram to issue himself financial bonuses.