Ismailia Criminal Court announced Sunday that the trials of former Minister of Agriculture Amin Abaza and businessman Amro Minsi, son of the secretary of agriculture of the defunct National Democratic Party, have been postponed to 2 November in order to listen to witness testimonies and give the defence time to review all relevant documents.

Minsi is accused of acquiring land in Sinia at a low price and of taking advantage of the agriculture minister for the land contracts. The former minister is facing accusations of selling Sinai land, which is protected, with the law mandating that Sinai land can to be leased but not sold.

Abaza approved the sale of 11,937 acres of Sinai land in an area that belongs to Ismailia Governorate. Businessman Minsi illegally bought the land and sold it for profit.

The court ordered 17 February that the funds and assets of Abaza, along with his wife and children, the businessman Mohamed Aboulenein and his son Tarek, and businessman Minsi and his wife, be frozen.