Former Egyptian president's retrial in Cairo

Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his affiliates have arrived at the police academy in Cairo to face retrial on charges of complicity in the killings of protesters and corruption. Mubarak’s sons Alaa and Gamal, fugitive businessman Hussein Salem, former Minister of Interior Habib al-Adly and six former Interior Ministry aides will also be retried at the academy courthouse this morning. The Second Criminal Circuit court is holding the retrial amidst heightened security measures. New evidence is expected to be presented in support of the prosecution. Judge Mahmoud Kamel Rasheedy is presiding over the court in the presence of attorneys Ismail Awad and Wajdi Mohamed Abdel Moneim. Cairo Criminal Court Judge Mustafa Hassan Abdullah withdrew from the case on April 13 due to a medical condition. The retrial was subsequently referred to the President of the Court of Appeal and redistributed to the Second Criminal Court. Mubarak will be retried on the charge of murdering demonstrators during Egypt’s 2011 revolution, as well as on further charges of "exploiting his influence, accepting two villas from Hussein Salem in exchange for allowing the businessman to export gas to Israel, and squandering public money in Salem’s interest." A judicial source told Arabstoday that today’s hearing is merely procedural. The prosecution will announce the charges, and present new evidence uncovered by recent investigations. Court clerk Hassan Yassin confirmed: "The prosecution will present new evidence, which will enhance the charges brought against the accused." Earlier, a Ministry of the Interior press release confirmed that comprehensive security operations had been implemented to secure the trial. Mubarak was to be transported to the court via helicopter from the Tora prison hospital, accompanied by medics. More than 3000 officers and soldiers from various security bodies have been deployed inside and outside the police academy, together with 30 armoured vehicles.   A further twenty armoured vehicles have been stationed around the premises. The courtroom itself is heavily guarded, and lawyers without official permits have been prohibited from entering. Mubarak's supporters congregated outside the courthouse to express their solidarity and demand the former president’s release on account of his poor health. Revolutionary martyrs’ families also assembled to demonstrate outside the building. A cordon was formed to separate the two groups an hour before the hearing was set to begin. Four armoured vehicles flanked the demonstrators. The Ministry of Health stationed four ambulances in front of gate eight to provide first aid, especially in view of current hot weather in the Egyptian capital. Permits have been issued to 44 Egyptian, Arab and international media outlets to cover the retrial. One hundred and sixty journalists from the Egyptian Broadcast Union have also been authorised to cover court proceedings. Members of the press clashed with security forces who delayed journalists’ entry into the courtroom to cover the trial.   Security was stepped up to prevent the journalists from breaking through railings guarding police academy gate eight. Mubarak’s first trial lasted one year and involved 49 court sessions. A verdict reached in June 2012 found Mubarak and al-Adly guilty of murdering protesters and sentence both to life in jail. Al-Adly's aides were acquitted.