Africa

Former Egypt president Hosni Mubarak’s retrial begins

Court had overturned conviction against Mubarak and sons of diverting public funds

The burned-out headquarters of Egypt’s National Democratic Party. The retrial of former leader of the party and president of Egypt Hosni Mubarak for allegedly diverting public funds has begun. Photograph: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Sat Apr 4 2015 - 16:50

An Egyptian court began a retrial of former president Hosni Mubarak and his sons for allegedly diverting public funds earmarked for the renovation of presidential palaces to upgrade family properties.

Mr Mubarak (86), toppled in a 2011 popular uprising, was sentenced to three years in prison last May and his two sons were given four-year jail terms in the same case.

In January, Egypt’s high court overturned the conviction against the frail Mr Mubarak, who is currently being treated in a military hospital in Cairo. His two sons were also freed pending retrial.

Egyptian state television aired brief footage of Mr Mubarak and his sons inside a cage in the courtroom in the police academy. The case was adjourned to April 29th.

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In November, a court dropped charges against Mr Mubarak of conspiring to kill protesters in the 2011 uprising, raising fears among human rights activists that the old regime may be making a comeback.

Reuters

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