An Egyptian court sentenced ousted president Hosni Mubarak and his two sons to three years in prison on Saturday after a retrial for embezzlement. Mubarak and his sons Alaa and Gamal were present in the caged dock, wearing suits and sunglasses. Mubarak’s lawyers may try to appeal the verdict.
He had already been sentenced to three years on the same charges but an appeal court overturned the original verdict. It was not immediately clear whether the sentencing took into account time served. The three had all been arrested in 2011, months after Mubarak was toppled in a popular 18-day uprising after three decades in power.
Mubarak waved at his supporters in the benches before the judge read his verdict. He and his sons were also fined 125 million pounds ($16 million) — the amount they were accused of embezzling from funds meant for the maintenance of presidential palaces.
They also have to give back 21 million pounds, the court ruled. Mubarak will return to the Cairo military hospital where he has spent much of his time since his detention.
Before Saturday’s verdict, he and his sons had been free men after their pretrial detention period expired. Mubarak, who turned 87 this month, was cleared of charges in another trial over the deaths of protesters during the uprising in January and February 2011.
Seven of his police commanders were acquitted in the trial. The prosecution has lodged an appeal.
AFP
