Update: Mubarak trial to continue 11, 12, 13 January

Mubarak's trial, regarding charges of killing protesters in 2011, has been scheduled to continue on January 11, 12 and 13.

Former military Chief of Staff Sami Anan testified in Sunday’s closed session, at which autocrat President Hosni Mubarak, 85, was also present.

Anan was sent into retirement in August 2012 by the now-ousted President Mohamed Morsi. He continued to serve the presidency, however, acting as a military adviser to Morsi. Anan resigned on July 1, following massive protests demanding an end to Morsi's rule and just two days before the president was removed by a military decree. Anan, a veteran of the Mubarak regime, served in various capacities for more than 20 years.

As part of a media ban, the court has allowed only the defendants and their lawyers, prosecutors and authorized civil defense lawyers to attend the closed session.

Mubarak and his former interior minister, Habib al-Adly, along with six of his deputies, are facing charges of inciting and conspiring to kill peaceful protesters in January and February 2011. Mubarak also faces charges of financial corruption and profiteering, along with his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, and fugitive businessman Hussein Salem.

Former Minister of Defense and leader of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) Hussein Tantawi testified at the trial on Saturday. The official Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported that Tantawi answered 250 questions. Tantawi refused to sit throughout his testimony, which lasted for three and a half hours, according to MENA.

Tantawi arrived at the court at 9:30 am and was asked 200 questions by the court and another 50 by the prosecution and the defense. According to MENA, the questions related to events of 25 January and the killing of protesters. There were also questions about the export of natural gas to Israel, the terms of which may have given Israel preferential pricing, and the sale of state-owned property at below-market prices.

The court deferred the Mubarak case to three consecutive sessions, scheduled for January 11, 12 and 13.

During these sessions, the court is scheduled to hear testimonies from Head of Intelligence Mohamed Farid el-Tohamy, Head of National Security Khaled Tharwat, and journalist Ibrahim Eissa.

Former Military Chief of Staff Sami Anan answered 280 questions during Sunday’s session; 230 from the court, and the remainder from the prosecution and defense, according to the Middle East News Agency.

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.

Police officers who were put on trial in different courts around the country for killing protesters were all acquitted for lack of evidence.

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.

The court revoked all sentences, both acquittals and convictions, and ordered a new trial in front of a different criminal court.