Egypt's Public Funds Prosecution is to question Thursday a former minister of housing over bribery reports and post abuses filed against him by a host of lawmakers, a legal source said Wednesday. "Former minister of housing Mohamed Ibrahim Suleiman was summoned to be heard by the prosecutors today over reports of bribery," the source said. Suleiman and his defence are expected to attend the probe to defend himself against the alleged charges, which he denied repeatedly, according to the source. "Summoning Suleiman does not mean there are charges against him. He can defend himself against the accusation and the prosecution will examine everything before a decision can be taken," the legal source elaborated. The former minister had submitted his resignation from the People's Assembly last week, saying that he did not want to make the house subject to any embarrassment over his questioning. Around 47 lawmakers spearheaded filed reports with the prosecution against Suleiman accusing him of wasting public funds, favouring his relatives and some businessmen by giving them vast plots of land at low prices as well as exploiting his post to make illegal money. Suleiman was in service as minister of housing and urban communities for more than 12 years. He was dismissed in 2005. he survived several similar allegations before.
