Caged Mubarak denies charges as trial begins
Source: Agencies |
August 4, 2011, Thursday
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AN ailing 83-year-old Hosni Mubarak, lying ashen-faced on a hospital bed inside a metal cage with his two sons standing beside him in white prison uniforms, denied charges of corruption and complicity in the killing of protesters at the start of his trial yesterday.
After widespread skepticism that Egypt's military rulers would allow one of their own - a former head of the air force - to be prosecuted in front of the world, the scene went a long way to satisfy one of the key demands that has united protesters since February 11, when Mubarak fell following an 18-day uprising.
In the courtroom, a prosecutor read the charges - that Mubarak was an accomplice along with his then-interior minister in the "intentional and premeditated murder of peaceful protesters" and that he and his sons received five villas worth nearly US$7 million from a prominent businessman for using their influence to get him a lower price for state land to build a resort complex in Sharm el-Sheikh.
"Yes, I am here," Mubarak said from his bed, raising his hand slightly when the judge asked him to identify himself and enter a plea. "I deny all these accusations completely," he said into a microphone, wagging his finger. His sons also pleaded not guilty.
Giant screen
The emotions swirling around the trial were on display outside the heavily secured Cairo police academy where the trial was being held.
A crowd of Mubarak supporters and hundreds of relatives of slain protesters and other Mubarak opponents massed at the gates, scuffling sporadically as they watched proceedings on a giant screen.
They threw stones and bottles at each other while riot police with shields and helmets tried to keep them apart.
The sight of Egypt's one-time most powerful man inside the defendants' cage, made of iron bars and metal mesh, was riveting. Defendants are traditionally held in cages during trials in Egypt.
Mubarak, a sheet pulled up to his chest, was wheeled into the cage on a hospital bed at the session's start. Though he was pale and his eyes were ringed with red, he appeared alert and aware of what was going on.
Little emotion
He showed little discernible emotion.
With him in the cage were his nine co-defendants, his two sons - one-time heir apparent Gamal, 47, and wealthy businessman Alaa, 49 - his former interior minister Habib el-Adly, and six top former police officials.
Mubarak, el-Adly and the police officials face the death penalty if they are convicted.
From time to time, Mubarak craned his head to see the proceedings.
At other times, he crooked his elbow over his face as if in exhaustion.
During the session, Mubarak's lawyer filed a motion that Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi - head of the council of generals that now runs Egypt - be called to testify.
He argued that Tantawi was in control of security after January 28, three days into the protests.
After several hours, the judge adjourned Mubarak and his sons' trial until August 15, though hearings in el-Adly's case would continue today.
The judge ordered Mubarak held at a military hospital, and that an oncologist be among the doctors monitoring him. That was one of the strongest indications yet that Mubarak has cancer after months of unconfirmed reports.
After widespread skepticism that Egypt's military rulers would allow one of their own - a former head of the air force - to be prosecuted in front of the world, the scene went a long way to satisfy one of the key demands that has united protesters since February 11, when Mubarak fell following an 18-day uprising.
In the courtroom, a prosecutor read the charges - that Mubarak was an accomplice along with his then-interior minister in the "intentional and premeditated murder of peaceful protesters" and that he and his sons received five villas worth nearly US$7 million from a prominent businessman for using their influence to get him a lower price for state land to build a resort complex in Sharm el-Sheikh.
"Yes, I am here," Mubarak said from his bed, raising his hand slightly when the judge asked him to identify himself and enter a plea. "I deny all these accusations completely," he said into a microphone, wagging his finger. His sons also pleaded not guilty.
Giant screen
The emotions swirling around the trial were on display outside the heavily secured Cairo police academy where the trial was being held.
A crowd of Mubarak supporters and hundreds of relatives of slain protesters and other Mubarak opponents massed at the gates, scuffling sporadically as they watched proceedings on a giant screen.
They threw stones and bottles at each other while riot police with shields and helmets tried to keep them apart.
The sight of Egypt's one-time most powerful man inside the defendants' cage, made of iron bars and metal mesh, was riveting. Defendants are traditionally held in cages during trials in Egypt.
Mubarak, a sheet pulled up to his chest, was wheeled into the cage on a hospital bed at the session's start. Though he was pale and his eyes were ringed with red, he appeared alert and aware of what was going on.
Little emotion
He showed little discernible emotion.
With him in the cage were his nine co-defendants, his two sons - one-time heir apparent Gamal, 47, and wealthy businessman Alaa, 49 - his former interior minister Habib el-Adly, and six top former police officials.
Mubarak, el-Adly and the police officials face the death penalty if they are convicted.
From time to time, Mubarak craned his head to see the proceedings.
At other times, he crooked his elbow over his face as if in exhaustion.
During the session, Mubarak's lawyer filed a motion that Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi - head of the council of generals that now runs Egypt - be called to testify.
He argued that Tantawi was in control of security after January 28, three days into the protests.
After several hours, the judge adjourned Mubarak and his sons' trial until August 15, though hearings in el-Adly's case would continue today.
The judge ordered Mubarak held at a military hospital, and that an oncologist be among the doctors monitoring him. That was one of the strongest indications yet that Mubarak has cancer after months of unconfirmed reports.
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