CAIRO: The trial of former interior Minister Habib El-Adly and six of his assistants for their involvement in killing protesters was adjourned to May 21 to give the defense team time to prepare their case.
El-Adly and his assistants — including former head of Cairo security Ismail Al-Shair; former head of public security Ali Fayid; former head of State Security Forces Ahmed Ramzi; and former head of Cairo State Security Investigations Unit Hussein Abdel Rahman — were charged with premeditated murder of protesters, attempted murder of others as well as inflicting major damages to public and private property which had a negative impact on the economy.
El-Adly and his assistants pleaded not guilty, denying all charges.
Lawyer Atef El-Menawy, representing Al-Shair, told Daily News Egypt, “The case documents and investigations are 9,400 pages that were released by the prosecution only eight days ago.”
“The defense lawyers need to have the opportunity to review the case documents and prepare,” he added.
El-Menawy denied media reports that Al-Shair and El-Adly’s other assistants testified that the former interior minister allowed the use of live ammunition against protesters.
A youth-led uprising in Egypt that started on Jan. 25 and continued for 18 days led to the ouster of then president Hosni Mubarak. Violent clashes between security forces and demonstrators during the first few days left at least 846 dead and over 6,000 injured, according to an official report by a fact-finding mission.
El-Adly is alleged to have ordered the police to withdraw from Egypt’s streets, creating a security vacuum that lasted for weeks since the night of Jan. 28, dubbed the “Friday of Anger.”
Ibrahim Bassioni, civil society lawyer volunteering for the prosecution, demanded a compensation of LE1 billion to be paid by the defendants to the army and the families of the martyrs who died during the January 25 Revolution.
“Half of the compensation should go to the army, for taking a great stance in supporting the people’s revolution,” Bassiouni told Daily News Egypt.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces took power on Feb. 11 after Mubarak stepped down.
Civil society lawyers also demanded a public trial, as many of the martyrs’ families weren’t allowed to enter the packed court room.
Around 50 people, including family members of slain protesters, staged a demonstration outside the court, shouting, "Death penalty for Adly! That dog must be immediately executed!"
The court recommended that the trial be relocated to a more spacious courthouse to allow room for more media coverage. Civil society lawyers suggested the trial be relocated to the Cairo Exhibition Grounds.
The court was placed under heavy security, with truckloads of riot police and army tanks stationed outside the building.
El-Adly is facing another trial for embezzlement and money laundering for which he has also pleaded not guilty. The verdict is slated for May 5.
El-Adly is also being investigated along with Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and Finance Minister Youssef Boutros-Ghali for illegal profiteering, importing number plates from a German company for LE 92 million more than the local market price for no justifiable reason and without holding a public tender.
Mubarak is in detention at a hospital in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh after suffering a heart attack during interrogation.
He too is being investigated by prosecutors in connection with the violent suppression of the uprising as well as for allegations of corruption.
Mubarak’s two sons, Alaa and Gamal, are in the Tora prison complex in the capital, and face similar charges.–Additional reporting by AFP.
