A BANDIT MAKES HIS GETAWAY

Amidst the recent turbulent political and social events in Egypt it is sometimes forgotten just how much loot the former leader has stashed away out of the exploitation of the Egyptian working class. "Hosni Mubarak's family fortune could be as much as $70bn (£43.5bn) according to analysis by Middle East experts, with much of his wealth in British and Swiss banks or tied up in real estate in London, New York, Los Angeles and along expensive tracts of the Red Sea coast. After 30 years as president and many more as a senior military official, Mubarak has had access to investment deals that have generated hundreds of millions of pounds in profits. Most of those gains have been taken offshore and deposited in secret bank accounts or invested in upmarket homes and hotels. According to a report last year in the Arabic newspaper Al Khabar, Mubarak has properties in Manhattan and exclusive Beverly Hills addresses on Rodeo Drive." (Guardian, 4 February) The Egyptian protest movement may or may not have brought about a more democratic society but it is clear Mubarak has cleaned up big time. RD