By Kevin McCauley
An Egyptian court on Sept. 15 sentenced steel tycoon Ahmed Ezz, a close ally of the son of ex-president Hosni Mubarak, to ten years in jail and fined him $11M for corruption.
Qorvis Communications in March picked up a $92K a month litigation communications contract from Stanley Rowe, special counsel to EZZ Industries.
The work was for judicial developments in post-revolutionary Egypt. Qorvis issued a press release in April about coverage the Washington Post and Washington Times gave to the arrest of Ezz.
The D.C. Times said the arrest “new fears that those who prospered under the regime of Hosni Mubarak will face revolutionary justice despite the West's hope that Egypt will emerge as a democracy."
The New York Times reported Sept. 16 that “to many, Ezz personified more than anyone else the political and economic corruption under Mr. Murbarak that enriched the politically connected few, leaving most Egyptians to sink deeper into poverty.”
Ezz, who was among the wealthiest of Egyptians, is remembered for his tailored Italian suits, multiple wives, brash and domineering style and the way he pointed his index finger in gesture of command, according to the NYT.
Egyptians sacked the headquarters of EZZ at the beginning of the uprising that ultimately brought down the regime of Mubarak.
A Qorvis staffer, who had worked the account, could not be reached for comment.
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