CAIRO: The former head of Egypt'a television and radio union Osama el-Sheikh was cleared on Thursday of squandering public funds through the purchase of shows at inflated prices, the state-run MENA news agency reported. The court said Sheikh was not at fault, in a high-profile case of corruption and a rare acquittal for former figures associated with the ousted government. MENA added that the decision came after a committee established in July to investigate the charges said the prices Sheikh paid for the programs were “in line with market rates” when the deals were made. Sheikh is among a number of former top officials in Mubarak's administration who are being investigated or are on trial as part of a broad crackdown on corruption during Mubarak's three decades in power. The former president and two of his sons are also on trial on a number of charges, which also include inciting police to kill demonstrators. Sheikh's relatives chanted: “Long live justice” after the verdict was read, MENA reported. BM
