Ahmed Shafiq on travel watchlist

Former premier Ahmed Shafiq, who left Egypt amid a corruption probe after losing to Mohammed Morsi in a bitterly fought presidential election, has been placed on a watchlist and given a travel ban, judicial sources said on Wednesday. Shafiq, a former air force chief appointed prime minister by president Hosni Mubarak before his overthrow early last year, is under investigation for an allegedly illegal sale of state land to Mubarak's sons. He travelled to the United Arab Emirates after losing to his Islamist nemesis Morsi in June's election. Shafiq's spokesman said at the time that he would return to Egypt and form a party. A source said it was unclear what would happen to Shafiq if he returned. In the past, people placed on the watchlist have been detained on arrival. A number of former regime officials, including Mubarak himself, have been convicted of corruption or killing protesters during the 18-day uprising that unseated the dictator.Egyptian Public Prosecutor Abdel Meguid Mahmoud made the announcement, while judge Osama al-Saidi, who had been tasked by the Justice Ministry to investigate Shafiq, released the results of his investigation. Alaa and Gamal Mubarak, the two sons of the former president, were earlier arrested on suspicion of having taken possession of 40.238 square metres of association-owned land at knock-down rates. Mubarak's party leader and senate speaker Safwat al-Sharif was on Wednesday meanwhile eferred to trial along with his two sons for allegedly making 600 million pounds (roughly $100 million) in illicit gains. The head of Egypt's Illicit Gain Authority Assem al-Gohary ordered the suspects to return LE300 million worth of ill-gained wealth and imposed a fine of the same amount Sharif, one of the linchpins of the regime of ousted president Hosni Mubarak, served as the NDP's general secretary from 2002 until his removal during the 25 January revolution. He had also served for a period as information minister. Sharif, along with other 23 former regime figures, is also standing trial before the Cairo Criminal Court on charges of orchestrating a bloody attack by horse and camel riders against pro-democracy protesters in Tahrir Square on 2-3 February, known as the "Battle of the Camel." Gohary also ordered the arrest and detention of Ashraf, for whom Interpol had issued an arrest warrant. Investigations had revealed that Ashraf owned plots of land, real estate and corporate stocks that do not match his legal sources of gain, as well as more than commercial and television production companies. A member of the Illicit Gains Authority saidSharif’s exploitation of his position resulted in his acquisition of a number of properties across the country, including agricultural fields, villas, apartments as well as a plot of land in the Bitter Lakes, that is also known as the "Ministers Tongue", where he built a luxurious apartment.  According to recent investigations, al-Sherif was helped by the Ismailia governor at that time, Abdel Moneim Amara, and signed the land under the name of his wife, who received it as a gift worth 3.5 million EGP. Investigations also revealed that both of Sharif's sons abused their father's influence to gain advantages with the state TV and press organisations, including advertising discounts and setting the screening schedule for commercials. Sharif will also have to respond  to the charges of orchestrating the killing of pro-democracy protesters in Tahrir Square on 2-3 February, in the repression known as the "Battle of the Camel."