(AFP File Photo)
Five Muslim Brotherhood members were acquitted on Sunday by the Third Misdemeanour Court in Ismailia while 10 others were sentenced for six months to three years for violence, destroying state property, and possessing firearms during a September march.
Among the acquitted was Essam El-Erian, vice chairman of the Brotherhood’s political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP). El-Erian, who is currently detained and being tried for the killing of protestors during 30 June clashes at the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in Cairo’s Moqattam, was not present at the trial.
On Monday, FJP General Secretary Mohamed Beltagy and controversial imam and Muslim Brotherhood supporter Safwat Hegazy were set to stand trial for the torture of two police officers at pro-Mohamed Morsi sit-in at Rabaa Al-Adaweya Mosque in Nasr City.
The pair is accused of handcuffing the police officers and attempting to kill them. They are also accused of being part of a terrorist group, according to state-run Al-Ahram.
Brotherhood leaders, including Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie and Morsi, are defendants in several other cases. Charges include espionage, prison break, insulting the judiciary, and inciting the killing of protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012.
Mohamed Badie was arrested from a Nasr City apartment on 20 August, while Morsi has been detained since his 3 July ouster. Morsi’s location was unknown until his first appearance in court on 4 November.
