Some Egyptian papers described airing the birthday party of the renowned Egyptian actress Nabila Ebaid live by the Nile Variety channel as a scandal that should be investigated immediately.
The papers called on the Minister of Information Safwat al Sherif to question the announcer who made a long dialogue with Ebaid on her birthday anniversary. These papers thought that the intensified dialogue with the star and the airing of the ceremony and shots from her main films have caused resentment among the public who see the TV channels as properties owned by the state and people and not merely by certain individuals.
Meanwhile, the prosecution department accused the announcer Nagwa Ibrahim of bribery in her capacity as a state employee. The announcer was then set free on a 5000-pound bail.
Director Mohammed Hashem was also detained for 15 days for questioning following his colleague director Ashraf Gad who has been imprisoned since a month for being convicted of accepting a 10,000 pound bribe from a guest hosted by Farah Clip program.
For her part Ibrahim said in press statements that she was innocent and never betrayed the audience and that the director’s accusations have come out of despair to escape from the crisis.
“I learnt about the incident through the local papers and knew that the prosecution department ambushed the director and caught him red handed and I have no relation whatsoever with the issue,” said Nagwa indicating that the selection of guests comes through faxes which the Family and Kid channels which she head receive on the basis of the rule first comes, first served.
Earlier the Shura Council Cultural Committee held a meeting in the last week of Ramadhan during which there was a discussion on the reasons behind the appearance of the pop singer Shaaban Abdel Rahim on the TV more than six times in one week -- Albawaba.com
