An Egyptian criminal court has started the retrial of Mubarak-era Minister of the Interior Habib Al-Adly in a corruption case that dates back to the former president’s rule, Al-Khaleej Al-Jadeed has reported. The retrial opened on Tuesday.
In April last year, a first-instance court sentenced Adly to three years in prison for corruption and the embezzlement of public funds during his time in office. He served as Interior Minister for 14 years, during which the ministry was criticised repeatedly by human rights activists for police brutality and the torture of suspects.
In January, the Court of Cassation accepted an appeal presented by the former minister, repealed the previous ruling and ordered a retrial in another criminal court in a different circuit. Adly attended the opening session on Tuesday, when the trial has adjourned until 3 July. He and 10 other defendants denied the charges that were read out by the prosecution.
Read: Egypt ex-anti-corruption official to face military trial
Adly was arrested last December after he had disappeared for months. His disappearance caused a public uproar. He was released from custody after the Court of Cassation repealed his initial prison sentence and ordered a retrial. The court has not ordered that he be remanded in custody during the trial.
Egyptian courts have acquitted many Mubarak-era officials accused of corruption.
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