Egypt seizes Mubarak family funds

[Nikkar Narayana]

Egypt's top prosecutor seized all the funds of ousted leader Hosni Mubarak and his family on Monday and banned them from travel abroad, the latest humiliation for the once-powerful family. It comes a day after authorities prevented Mubarak's wife and son from flying out of the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
During the 18-day pro-democracy uprising, unconfirmed reports that Mubarak and his family might have amassed billions, or even tens of billions of dollars over their three decades in power, fueled protesters already enraged over massive corruption and poverty in Egypt. Mubarak, the top ruling party leaders and other cronies, as well as the powerful military have all profited richly from the corrupt system.
Mubarak was forced out of the president's office on Feb. 11 by military leaders, who have promised to meet many of the protesters' demands. He is now believed to be living in seclusion with his family in Sharm el-Sheikh. The attorney general had already frozen the assets of the ousted president, his wife, two sons and their wives on Feb. 20.
The latest move by the prosecutor came a day after authorities prevented Mubarak's wife Suzanne and younger son Gamal from flying out of Sharm el-Sheikh. Airport officials said that they tried to board a private jet at the airport in the Red Sea resort town, where they have been staying since Mubarak stepped down.