Egypt’s former President Hosni Mubarak and his sons jailed for corruption

Egypt's former President Hosni Mubarak in the courtroom
(Image: Yahoo)

Cairo Criminal Court has declared its verdict in the corruption case of Egypt’s former President Hosni Mubarak and his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, on Saturday, 9 May. Hosni Mubarak was declared guilty in the graft case and received three years prison term, while his two sons received four years in prison respectively.

The case centers on the embezzlement of $ 14 million of state money aimed for renovation of the presidential palaces. It was stated that this amount of money was used by former Egypt’s President and his sons for renovation of their private residences in Cairo and on the Red Sea Coast, in the city of Sharm El-Sheikh, as well as the family owned farm.

Hosni Mubarak and both of his sons were presented during the court session, held in the building of the Police Academy in Cairo. Several dozens of Mubarak supporters have reportedly gathered in front of the Police Academy building in order to support Hosni Mubarak. They were wearing T-shirts with his portraits and shouted slogans to support him and reacted angrily when they heard the court’s decision. Police forces were securing the area, and there were no clashes and tensions.

This case was the last court case against the former Egyptian President, who was ousted as a result of the massive January 25 uprising in 2011.

Hosni Mubarak faces several charges including accusations of murdering protesters during January 25 Revolution in 2011 and several corruption cases as well. In November 2014 Egypt’s Criminal Court threw out a case in which Hosni Mubarak was accused of murdering protesters during the uprising, but the Court of Cassation can still decide whether to accept this appeal. The session of the court regarding this issue is expected to be held on 4 June. Later in November Hosni Mubarak and his aides were also cleared of several other criminal cases.

As for the current Court’s verdict, Hosni Mubarak and his sons Alaa and Gamal were also issued with the fine of LE 125 millions and the court also ordered them to return LE 21 million to the state.

Meanwhile, Hosni Mubarak will likely return home despite of the Court’s verdict, stated Hosni Mubrak’s defense team, as Hosni Mubarak has still served the three years term in prison since April 2011, while his sons were jailed in Cairo’s Tora prison as well. According to the Egyptian law, pre-trial detention is counted as a prison term as well. Thus, once the status and the fact that Hosni Mubarak has already spent the required term in prison will be confirmed, former Egypt’s strongman will have to be released. As for his sons, their initial four years terms were shortened to three years, and they have also spent most of these terms in prisons.

Hosni Mubarak’s sons Alaa and Gamal are still waiting for another court trial in another corruption case, while Hosni Mubarak is awaiting the decision of Egypt’s Highest Court regarding the case of murdering protesters.

After the court’s session Hosni Mubarak was transferred to Maadi Military Hospital.