Egyptian Court Dismisses Charges Against Former President Mubarak Accused of Corruption & Killing Hundreds
An Egyptian court on Saturday in Cairo dismissed charges against former President Hosni Mubarak for his involvement in the deaths of protesters during a 2011 uprising that ended his rule.
The Cairo Criminal Court also acquitted Mubarak’s Interior Minister, Habib al-Adly, and ex-security chiefs of the same charges.
The court cleared Mubarak, his sons, Alaa and Gamal, and a fugitive business tycoon of charges in a separate corruption case.
Presiding judge, Mahmoud al-Rasheedi,
referring to Mubarak, said that “only history and God should be called
on to issue judgment on someone who served as vice president and then
president of Egypt for over 30 years.’’
Mubarak was already serving three years in prison in a separate corruption case.
The 86-year old is staying in an army hospital in southern Cairo due to frail health.
Prior to delivering the verdict,
al-Rasheedi warned the audience in the courtroom that any reaction to
the rulings would be considered an act of contempt for the court.
In 2011, Mubarak was jailed for life for
failing to prevent the protester killings, becoming the first-ever
Egyptian ruler to be tried and sent to prison.
In early 2013, the ruling was overturned and a retrial was ordered.
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Sean Gallup
