By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Cairo : The Spanish government is ready to extradite Egyptian tycoon Hussein Salem, a confidant of former president Hosni Mubarak.
Madrid had previously refused to hand over Salem, 83, citing his age.
Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, his sons Gamal and Alaa and Hussein Salem face trial in Cairo’s criminal court for money laundering and corruption. They face up to 25 years in prison.
Hussein Salem, who holds Egyptian and Spanish citizenship, and his family left Egypt in February after Mubarak resigned.
In September, Spain agreed to hand over Salem’s children Khaled and Magda, who were wanted on money laundering charges.
Egyptian court charges Salem with fraud and speculation relating to a gas deal with Israel and sale of land on the Red Sea.
Salem owns several hotels in Sharm El Sheikh, including the Movenpick Resort where Mubarak had lived before his arrest.