Cairo With her husband and two sons already in jail, Egypt’s former first lady, Suzan Mubarak, has seen a reversal of fortune.
During Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule, Suzan wielded a major influence in Egypt with her mainly social activities regularly covered in the state media. Suzan headed several state institutions concerned with the welfare of Egypt’s women and children. They included the National Centre for Childhood and Motherhood, the National Committee for Egyptian Women and the National Council for Women.
Born to a British nurse and an Egyptian physician in 1941, Suzan obtained a master’s degree in sociology at the American University in Cairo in 1977.
In 1993, she launched the “Reading for All” programme, an annual cultural festival aimed at publishing books in different disciplines and offering them to the public at low prices.
The opposition has accused Suzan of meddling in state affairs and wasting public money during her husband’s rule, which ran from 1981 2011. Her critics say she was the one who strongly pushed for grooming her younger son, Jamal, to succeed his father in power.
Following a popular revolt that unseated Mubarak in February last year, prosecutors probed Suzan for alleged corruption. At the time, Suzan reportedly suffered a heart attack after some media reported she would be jailed. No formal charges have been made against her since the anti-Mubarak revolt.
Graft charges
Prosecutors said in May last year that Suzan had waived assets of 24 million Egyptian pounds (Dh14.6 million) kept in her name in banks to avoid charges of graft. She did not attend the 10-month trial of her hsuband and two sons since it began in August last year.
Post-revolutionary Egypt almost forgot about the former first lady until June 2 when a court sentenced her husband to life in prison on charges of complicity in protester deaths. The same court acquitted her two sons, Ala’a and Jamal, of corruption and influence peddling charges.
However, the two sons are being held in prison to stand a new trial scheduled for July 9 for alleged stock market fraud.
Following the verdicts, thousands of angry Egyptians took to the streets, demanding death to the Mubaraks, including the former first lady.
Protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square last week held posters showing nooses around the necks of Mubarak, his two sons and Suzan.
“It is unlikely that a fresh inquiry will be opened with Suzan Mubarak unless under public pressure,” said a legal source. “This may happen when the new president takes office next month as fresh protests are likely to be held to demand tougher punishment against Mubarak, his family and former officials,” added the source, requesting anonymity, because he was not authorised to speak to the media.
With Mubarak’s health worsening in prison in southern Cairo, Suzan is staying in Cairo amid tight army security, according to sources. She has been permitted to visit him twice at a hospital in prison since he was jailed more than a week ago .
“You’ll be responsible for his death,” Suzan reportedly shouted at prison officials after they refused to approve Mubarak’s transfer to a military facility.
