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Egypt's Hosni Mubarak jailed for embezzlement | Egypt's Hosni Mubarak jailed for embezzlement |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A court in Egypt has sentenced former President Hosni Mubarak to three years in prison after finding him guilty of embezzling public funds. | A court in Egypt has sentenced former President Hosni Mubarak to three years in prison after finding him guilty of embezzling public funds. |
His two sons, Alaa and Gamal, were also convicted and given four-year terms. | His two sons, Alaa and Gamal, were also convicted and given four-year terms. |
The three were also fined $3m (£1.8m) and ordered to repay the $17.6m they were accused of stealing. | The three were also fined $3m (£1.8m) and ordered to repay the $17.6m they were accused of stealing. |
Mubarak, 86, is also on trial for abuse of power and conspiring in the killing of protesters during the 2011 uprising that forced him to resign. | Mubarak, 86, is also on trial for abuse of power and conspiring in the killing of protesters during the 2011 uprising that forced him to resign. |
He was found guilty of the charge relating to the protesters in 2012 along with former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly, and sentenced to life in prison. | He was found guilty of the charge relating to the protesters in 2012 along with former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly, and sentenced to life in prison. |
But in January 2013 the Court of Cassation upheld an appeal by the two men against their convictions on technical grounds and ordered a retrial. | But in January 2013 the Court of Cassation upheld an appeal by the two men against their convictions on technical grounds and ordered a retrial. |
In August, a court ordered Mubarak's release from prison and transfer to a military hospital in Cairo, where he is being held under house arrest. | In August, a court ordered Mubarak's release from prison and transfer to a military hospital in Cairo, where he is being held under house arrest. |
Gamal, the president's one-time heir apparent, and Alaa, a businessman, are also being retried on separate corruption charges. | |
Analysis: Orla Guerin, BBC News, Cairo | Analysis: Orla Guerin, BBC News, Cairo |
A lone supporter of Hosni Mubarak staged a one-woman protest outside the Cairo police academy from early morning, clutching a poster of the former president. | A lone supporter of Hosni Mubarak staged a one-woman protest outside the Cairo police academy from early morning, clutching a poster of the former president. |
In court, a small number of journalists were joined by a handful of Mubarak loyalists. The aged former leader was seated in a wheelchair, his hair still improbably black. He was flanked by his sons - the embezzlement was a family affair. Mubarak appeared alert as the brief session began, but betrayed no emotion. | In court, a small number of journalists were joined by a handful of Mubarak loyalists. The aged former leader was seated in a wheelchair, his hair still improbably black. He was flanked by his sons - the embezzlement was a family affair. Mubarak appeared alert as the brief session began, but betrayed no emotion. |
After the verdict a few supporters showed their anger outside, some shouting at police. One man claimed, through tears, that Hosni Mubarak had been convicted now - just before the presidential election - for political reasons. | After the verdict a few supporters showed their anger outside, some shouting at police. One man claimed, through tears, that Hosni Mubarak had been convicted now - just before the presidential election - for political reasons. |
But the protesters numbered around half a dozen or so - a striking indication of how little public support or public attention Hosni Mubarak commands these days. | But the protesters numbered around half a dozen or so - a striking indication of how little public support or public attention Hosni Mubarak commands these days. |
Most Egyptians appear to have lost interest in the man who ruled for three decades, and who once seemed immovable. | Most Egyptians appear to have lost interest in the man who ruled for three decades, and who once seemed immovable. |
'Without regard' | 'Without regard' |
In February, the Mubaraks were accused of diverting $17.6m meant for maintenance of presidential palaces to renovate their own private residences in Cairo and on the Red Sea coast, as well as a family farm. | In February, the Mubaraks were accused of diverting $17.6m meant for maintenance of presidential palaces to renovate their own private residences in Cairo and on the Red Sea coast, as well as a family farm. |
They denied the charge and asserted at the trial that the prosecution's case was "completely unsubstantiated because it never happened". | They denied the charge and asserted at the trial that the prosecution's case was "completely unsubstantiated because it never happened". |
But on Wednesday, Judge Osama Shaheen told the court: "He should have treated people close and far from him equally. | But on Wednesday, Judge Osama Shaheen told the court: "He should have treated people close and far from him equally. |
"Instead of abiding by the constitution and laws, he gave himself and his sons the freedom to take from public funds whatever they wanted to without oversight and without regard." | "Instead of abiding by the constitution and laws, he gave himself and his sons the freedom to take from public funds whatever they wanted to without oversight and without regard." |
Mubarak sat in the caged dock in a wheelchair, wearing a grey suit. His sons stood beside him in white prison uniforms. | Mubarak sat in the caged dock in a wheelchair, wearing a grey suit. His sons stood beside him in white prison uniforms. |
One of their lawyers, Mostafa Ali As, said they would appeal. | One of their lawyers, Mostafa Ali As, said they would appeal. |
Four other defendants in the case were acquitted. | Four other defendants in the case were acquitted. |
It was not immediately clear whether the 23 months that Mubarak and his sons have spent in custody would count towards their sentences. | It was not immediately clear whether the 23 months that Mubarak and his sons have spent in custody would count towards their sentences. |
Egyptians vote in a presidential election next month that former military chief Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, who served as military intelligence chief under Mubarak, is widely expected to win. | |
In other developments on Wednesday: | |
Are you in Egypt? What do you think of the verdict? You can contact us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using 'Mubarak' in the subject heading. | Are you in Egypt? What do you think of the verdict? You can contact us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using 'Mubarak' in the subject heading. |