Close Mubarak Aide Jailed for Corruption

A criminal court has convicted one of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's closest aides of corruption and jailed him for seven years, Egypt's official news agency said Sunday.

Sunday's ruling also fined Zakaria Azmi 36.3 million pounds ($6 million).

Azmi was Mubarak's chief of staff and the former president was rarely seen in public without him standing by his side.

The verdict comes a week before Mubarak himself is due to be sentenced after a trial in which he faced charges of complicity in the killing of protesters during the popular uprising that toppled his regime last year.

Mubarak also faced corruption charges.

The official Middle East News Agency said the court established that Azmi had used his position to make illicit gains of 42.6 million pounds ($7 million).