Mubarak defence to resubmit appeal in trial for cutting communications during revolution

An administrative court originally ordered Mubarak, his PM and interior minister to pay a combined fine of EGP 540 million for cutting all electronic communication in the country during the revolution

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El-Sayed Gamal El-Din , Saturday 11 Mar 2017

Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak looks towards his supporters outside the area where he is hospitalized during the celebrations of the 43rd anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, at Maadi military hospital on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt October 6, 2016. (Reuters)

Egypt’s High Administrative Court decided on Saturday that it will allow the defence of ousted president Hosni Mubarak, his prime minister and interior minister to re-submit its appeal in their trial for cutting electronic communication throughout the country during the January 2011 uprising.

An administrative court originally convicted Mubarak, former PM Ahmed Nazif and former interior minister Habib Al-Adly in May 2011, slapping them with a combined fine of EGP 540 million for the damages to the economy caused by the decision to disable communications.

The trio appealed the verdict at the time.

The High Administrative Court – originally set to rule on the defendants’ appeal on Saturday – has accepted a request by the defence to amend its appeal before a ruling is made.

During the nationwide uprisings that ousted Mubarak in 2011, all electronic communication in the country – including the internet, mobile phones and landlines – was cut on 28 January for several days to prevent protesters from communicating.

Earlier this month, the Court of Cassation acquitted Mubarak in his retrial on charges of killing protesters during the revolution, with the former autocrat now free from custody.

The 88-year-old ousted president has been confined to Maadi Military Hospital for treatment since 2012.

Nazif, who served as prime minister from 2004 until Mubarak’s ouster in January 2011, is free after being acquitted on two different corruption and profiteering charges.

El-Adly is currently under house arrest for the duration of his trial on charges of illicit gains during his post as interior minister.