An Egyptian court has sentenced a former finance minister to 25 years in prison on charges of squandering public funds.



Egypt’s state news agency reported Tuesday that Yousef Boutros-Ghali was found guilty of squandering around $3.6 million during his final years in the post.



He has been convicted on similar charges in past cases.



Boutros-Ghali is a nephew of former U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and is believed to be in London.



Because he has been tried in absentia, he is allowed a retrial and all verdicts can be overturned upon his return.



A Cairo court is also due to issue a verdict later this month in a case involving Boutros-Ghali and the country’s former prime minister, Ahmed Nazif, and former interior minister, Habib el-Adly, who are both imprisoned in Cairo.

Last Update: Tuesday, 23 April 2013 KSA 17:55 - GMT 14:55