The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has rejected Egypt’s request to arrest and extradite former presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq, who is residing in the United Arab Emirates, an Egyptian official said on Wednesday.
Interpol described the request against Shafiq, who lost the presidential race to President Mohammed Mursi last year, as a “politicized move,” Lieutenant Ahmed Helmi, an aide to the minister of interior, told the state news agency MENA.
Shafiq has described accusations that he fled corruption charges against him as politically motivated.
Appointed prime minister by former President Hosni Mubarak before he was overthrown in 2011, Shafiq has denied reports that he would face charges for an allegedly illegal sale of state land to Mubarak’s sons.
After the former president’s downfall, a number of officials and businessmen were put on a wanted list by the country’s new government.
Spain has rejected handing over wanted Egyptian businessman Hussain Salim and his two sons.
