The Egyptian Businessman Ahmed Ezz
One of the most prominent figures of the former regime, and one of the most famous businessmen in Egypt, Eng. Ahmed Ezz, owner of Ezz Steel Companies and Factories. He was accused of seizing the public funds, money laundering, and steel licensing. Dr. Mohamed Hamoda, Egypt's most prominent lawyer, undertook to defend the businessman Ahmed Ezz at the time when everyone was attacking him and accusing him of corrupting political life in Egypt and forging the results of parliament elections in 2010. Dr. Mohammed Hamoda accepted this task out of his belief that political positions have nothing to do with criminal charges; the rule lies in availability of decisive evidences of committing the crime against the accused and presence of elements constituting an offence. Indeed, Dr. Mohammed Hamoda could obtain a ruling revoking and repealing the judgment rendered against businessman Ahmed Ezz in the steel licenses case; Ahmed Ezz had been sentenced to ten years imprisonment, punished with a fine, and was obliged to return the licenses granted. This ruling raised the feelings of some groups of the Egyptian people. However, Dr. Hamoda got out defending and saying that nothing in the case papers condemned the businessman Ahmed Ezz. He declared that he did not care about the public opinion in Egypt as much as he is concerned with defending the accused whom he is convinced with their innocence. Businessman Ahmed Ezz had been retried before the Cairo Criminal Court, which convicted him guilty. In connection with the most serious charge, i.e., money laundering, Dr. Mohamed Hamoda was able to indicate the link of this case to other charges and cases and he has already obtained a ruling to suspend the case in abeyance pending settlement of in other cases.