By Tamim Elyan
CAIRO: Ousted president Hosni Mubarak’s trial hearings will be held at the Police Academy on consecutive days, not abiding by the regular court schedule, until a final verdict is issued, said Chancellor Ahmed Refaat, head of the Cairo Criminal Court and the judge presiding over the case.
At a press conference Sunday, Refaat said that the trial of Mubarak, his two sons Gamal and Alaa, ex-interior minister Habib El-Adly and six of his aides on charges of killing protesters during the 18-day uprising that toppled the regime will be held at lecture hall 1 at the Police Academy — formerly called Mubarak Police Academy.
Six hundred people will be allowed to attend including the martyrs’ families, defendants’ families, lawyers and the media, he said.
“We will issue our ruling the way God ordered us to do and serve justice,” said Refaat who heads constituency five at the North Cairo Criminal Court which will handle the case after El-Adly and Mubarak’s cases were lumped together.
This judiciary authority also includes Justices Mohamed Assem Bassyouni and Hani Borham, heads of the Cassation Court.
Protesters holding a sit-in in Tahrir Square and cities nationwide since July 8 have criticized the foot-dragging in the trials of Mubarak and former regime figures.
Following demands for more transparency in the procedures, the Supreme Judicial Council decided on July 12 to move the trials of former regime figures and officers accused of killing protesters to larger courts to allow for more public attendance, as well as air the trials on big screens outside the courthouse.
Since then, court sessions have also been broadcast live on public TV channels.
“Based on our belief in the Egyptian peoples’ right to monitor the legality of the procedures of the case, we will allow Egyptian TV to air the trial live,” Refaat said.
He announced the procedures of acquiring permits to attend the trial, adding that no cell phones or cameras will be allowed inside the courtroom.
The state television camera will be the only one allowed inside.
During the press conference, Refaat threatened to call the event off when some media representatives caused a commotion, but order was soon restored.
