Thursday, 05 May 2011
Egypt's former Interior Minister Habib al-Adli was sentenced to 12 years in prison. (File photo)
Egypt's former Interior Minister, Habib al-Adli, was sentenced on Thursday to 12 years in jail, reports Agence-France Presse.
Mr. al-Adli is the first official from former President Hosni Mubarak’s administration to stand trial and be convicted on charges of corruption.
A correspondent for Al Arabiya reported that a Jiza court sentenced Mr. al-Adli for seven years on charges of profiteering and five years for money laundering. The court also fined him 15 million Egyptian pounds ($2.5 million) reported AFP.
Mr. al-Adli is the first official from former President Hosni Mubarak’s administration to stand trial and be convicted on charges of corruption.
A correspondent for Al Arabiya reported that a Jiza court sentenced Mr. al-Adli for seven years on charges of profiteering and five years for money laundering. The court also fined him 15 million Egyptian pounds ($2.5 million) reported AFP.
Many Egyptians have been closely watching Mr. al-Adli’s trial as he is widely reviled for the brutality shown by his police force during the January 2011 protests that led to Mr. Mubarak’s ouster.
Mr. al-Adli is also facing separate charges for the death of pro-democracy protesters during the revolt for which he pleaded his innocence on April 26.
The former interior minister could face the death penalty if convicted.
The trial for those charges was adjourned until May 21.
Mr. al-Adli’s trial, along with six of his top aides, opened at a courthouse in a Cairo suburb amid tight security. Some 1,000 relatives and friends of the nearly 850 Egyptians killed in the protests demonstrated outside the courthouse demanding he and his aides be hanged for their alleged crimes.
His trial came amid a wave of investigations concerning former Egyptian officials charged with a host of corruption charges during their tenure in Mr. Mubarak’s rule.
On Saturday, Egypt's new Justice Minister, Mohammed al-Guindi told the daily al-Ahram that Mr. Mubarak himself could face the death penalty if convicted of ordering the shooting of protesters during the uprisings that saw his downfall.
At least 846 protesters were killed during the January uprising that led to Mr. Mubarak's departure from the Egyptian presidency on February 11.
“Certainly, if [he is] convicted for the crime of killing protesters, it could result in the death sentence,” said Mr. al-Guindi.
He added it would depend on whether Mr. a-Adly testifies against Mr. Mubarak and identifies him as the man who gave the order to open fire on the protesters.
Mr. al-Adly was one of the most powerful men under Mr. Mubarak, in charge of an estimated 500,000 men and women in the security forces.
(Ikram Al Yacoub of Al Arabiya can be reached at: ikram.yacoub@mbc.net)
Mr. al-Adli is also facing separate charges for the death of pro-democracy protesters during the revolt for which he pleaded his innocence on April 26.
The former interior minister could face the death penalty if convicted.
The trial for those charges was adjourned until May 21.
Mr. al-Adli’s trial, along with six of his top aides, opened at a courthouse in a Cairo suburb amid tight security. Some 1,000 relatives and friends of the nearly 850 Egyptians killed in the protests demonstrated outside the courthouse demanding he and his aides be hanged for their alleged crimes.
His trial came amid a wave of investigations concerning former Egyptian officials charged with a host of corruption charges during their tenure in Mr. Mubarak’s rule.
On Saturday, Egypt's new Justice Minister, Mohammed al-Guindi told the daily al-Ahram that Mr. Mubarak himself could face the death penalty if convicted of ordering the shooting of protesters during the uprisings that saw his downfall.
At least 846 protesters were killed during the January uprising that led to Mr. Mubarak's departure from the Egyptian presidency on February 11.
“Certainly, if [he is] convicted for the crime of killing protesters, it could result in the death sentence,” said Mr. al-Guindi.
He added it would depend on whether Mr. a-Adly testifies against Mr. Mubarak and identifies him as the man who gave the order to open fire on the protesters.
Mr. al-Adly was one of the most powerful men under Mr. Mubarak, in charge of an estimated 500,000 men and women in the security forces.
(Ikram Al Yacoub of Al Arabiya can be reached at: ikram.yacoub@mbc.net)
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