Three top Egyptian media personalities have been banned from leaving the country due to corruption charges.

Attorney-General Aly Al-Hawary has banned Mohamed Aahdy Fadel, former chairman of the board of directors, and Hany Kamel, advertising manager of Akhbar El-Youm, in addition to Tarek Seyam, owner of an advertising agency, from travel as they are being investigated for squandering public funds.

Akhbar El-Youm is one of the most widely circulated state-owned newspapers in Egypt.

The Public Funds Prosecution has summouned several media officials to testify in the case. 

The decision came after Prosecutor-General Abdel Megeed Mahmoud filed a complaint accusing Fadel, Kamel and former head of the Shura Council Safwat Al-Sherif of wasting public funds.

Sherif was also a former information minister and was considered one of the most powerful men in the Mubarak regime. He is currently detained in Tora Prison along with other ex-regime figures.

According to reports, Akhbar El-Youm in cooperation with an advertising agency owned by El-Sherif’s son produced several soap operas that led to a loss of LE7 million. Additionally, Kamel violated contractual regulations for the benefit of the giant advertising agency of Tarek Nour, which resulted in a LE64 million loss to Akhbar El-Youm, in addition to other financial losses.

The complaint added that the officials produced a movie about former president Mubrarak and held two concerts for famous Arab stars that led to the loss of LE80 million.