THIS IS a Corruption Scandal

Sometimes Egypt is not poor at all. A $ 500,000 salary was not enough, this media "tycoon" also had millions in hidden benefits. He pocketed $ 14,400 PER DAY in commissions for advertising and distribution. All this from a state owned company.

Ibrahim Nafie, former chairperson of the Al-Ahram group, is also a personal confidant to President Hosni Mubarak. As such, Nafie held his position for 26 years. According to weekly El-Osboa, Nafie transferred $ 70 million into his own account before being replaced in July.

El-Osboa published facsimiles documenting the corruption allegations and detailing some of the payments made to Nafie and his close associates. The paper also accuse Nafie for throwing extravagant birthday parties at his home every year, at a cost of $ 43,000, charged to the state owned company.

Now, don't expect workers, unions and regular people who can barely make a living from their salaries - including the majority of Al-Ahram's employees - take to the streets. Regular people do refer to the top-shots as thieves, without exception. They know how common it is. But only rarely are the facts laid on the table for everybody to view.

I have always been against the death penalty but knowing how people are struggling, struggling, struggling and struggling day in and out year after year, I would understand why few - including me - would hesitate too shout out loud in protest if Nafie were to dangle from his neck on Ramses Square.

Edit 31/8: See more media that now has picked up on the story.