Cairo, Feb 15, 2020 – [Photo by Daniela Turcano] – A Cairo criminal court sentenced the brother of a former Egyptian finance minister to 30 years in jail on Saturday for smuggling antiquities out of the country, a judicial source said. He had three accomplices, including Italian ex-honorary consul to Egypt Ladislav Skakal, who was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in jail and a million pound fine. The stolen antiquities were returned to Egypt in cooperation with Italian authorities in 2018. Also sentenced in the case were two Egyptians, both given 15 years in jail and a million pound fine. In recent years, Egypt has sought to promote its archaeological heritage in a bid to revive its vital tourism sector.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 15, 2020 15:33 UTC