Egypt's Cairo Criminal Court decided Thursday to sentence fugitive businessman Hussein Salem and former Oil Minister Sameh Fahmi 15 years in jail in the case of exporting gas to Israel, official news agency MENA reported.

The court also decided to sentence former deputy head of the Egyptian General Petroleum Company ( EGPC) Mahmoud Ammer, former deputy head of EGPC for Production Hassan Akl, and former deputy head of the EGPC for Planning Ismaeil Karara for seven years in jail.

In addition, former head of the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) Mohamed Youssef was sentenced 10 years in jail while former chairman of the EGPC was sentenced three years in jail.

The convicts altogether were fined 2 billion U.S. dollars, and have been forced to pay back around 500 million U.S. dollars.

The natural gas deal between Egypt and Israel mediated by former President's Hosni Mubarak's close friend Salem was signed in 2005 at a price that critics said was far below the market value.