Update: Judge temporarily lifts publishing ban on Mubarak retrial

In a surprise move, Judge Mahmoud al-Rashidy says the publishing ban on former President Hosni Mubarak’s retrial will be temporarily lifted for Sunday’s court session, according to the official Middle East News Agency (MENA).

The judge said he will allow anyone who has a permit previously written and approved by the court to attend the session. On Sunday, the two witnesses scheduled to testify are journalist Ibrahim Eissa and General Ayman Faheem Ahmed, officer of the Republican Guard at the end of Mubarak’s time in power.

The retrial of Mubarak and former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly resumed on Saturday morning at the Police Academy in New Cairo.

Saturday’s session began in the absence of Mubarak, after the helicopter that transports him to the court was delayed due to poor weather conditions, low visibility due to fog, for flying. He is currently being held at the Maadi Military Hospital.

Saturday’s hearing began at 11 am; it was not until around 12 pm that the former president arrived at the court, according to MENA.

Mubarak’s sons, Alaa and Gamal, are also facing trial by the North Cairo Criminal Court, along with six of Adly’s aides, for involvement in the killing of protesters during the January 25, 2011 uprising.

Mubarak and his sons also face charges of financial corruption and profiteering, along with fugitive businessman Hussein Salem.

Former military Chief of Staff Sami Anan testified during the last closed session on December 15. The trial was then adjourned and scheduled to resume in three consecutive sessions on January 11, 12 and 13.

During these closed sessions, the court was due to hear testimonies from Head of Intelligence Mohamed Farid al-Tohamy, Head of National Security Khaled Tharwat, and journalist Ibrahim Eissa.

During the 2011 uprising, Tohamy served as the head of the Administrative Control Authority. 

According to MENA, Tohamy answered more than 300 questions over a period of five hours on the stand Saturday. The current intelligence chief gave testimony about the cases related to the killing of protesters during the January 25 uprising, the deal to export gas to Israel at undervalued prices, as well as the possession by Mubarak and his sons of a number of villas in  Sharm el-Skeikh given to them by Salem.

Adly and Mubarak were both sentenced to life in prison in June 2012. They were found guilty of failing to prevent the killings of more than 1,000 protesters who died during the revolution in late January and February 2011. Six Ministry of Interior aides, Mubarak’s two sons and Salem were all acquitted.

Following requests by both the prosecution and the defense to appeal the verdict, the Court of Cassation ordered a retrial for all the defendants in the case.

A media ban was ordered on the proceedings of the retrial for national security reasons.