According to the Prosecutor General’s statement, former PM Mahlab filed a complaint charging that a person called Hamed El-Nabrawy published false news on various social media networks that defamed him, claiming that the former premier was arrested along with several bankers in Egypt for allegedly transferring billions of Egyptian pounds abroad. 

Mahlab testified that El-Nabrawy began to refer to him with his initials after first publishing false news directly using his full name, according to the prosecution.

Mahlab stated in his complaint that the alleged fake news went viral on different social media platforms.

He also accused El-Nabrawy of insulting him as well as disturbing general peace and security.

Mahlab was appointed prime minister in February 2014 by then interim President Adly Mansour following the resignation of Hazem El-Beblawi.

In June 2014, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, a newly elected president then, retained Mahlab as premier.

In September 2015, Mahlab presented his resignation to President El-Sisi who accepted it after the cabinet faced several problems, challenges, and criticism in its final weeks.

Former Minister of Petroleum Sherif Ismail replaced Mahlab as prime minister.

Mahlab was appointed in the same month as his presidential aide for national and strategic projects.