Egypt's Indiana Jones facing charges

CAIRO, April 3 (UPI) -- The man known as Egypt's Indiana Jones is facing charges for a $17 million deal he made with the American Geographical Society, a prosecutor said.

General Prosecutor Abdel Meguid Mahmoud said former Antiquities Minister Zahi Hawass is accused of wasting public money and stealing antiquities for arranging Tutankhamun exhibitions in the United States and Australia, Egypt's Ahram Online reported.

The deal Hawass made allowed the transfer and display of 143 objects from the Egyptian Museum to Washington in 2003.

Egypt's director of archaeological sites has requested the objects be returned to the museum.

The case against Hawass has been turned over to the Public Fund Prosecution Office.