Former Egyptian Interior Minister Goes On Trial On Corruption Charges
By Ria Novosti
Once feared former Egyptian Interior Minister Habib al-Adly went on trial in Cairo on Saturday on embezzlement and money laundering charges.
This trial is the first of a string of prosecutions of former high-ranking Egyptian officials following the resignation of former President Hosni Mubarak.
Al-Adly is accused of embezzling some $750,000 of state funds, which he later allegedly used for paying for a plot of land.
The judge adjourned the case until April 2 after the defense asked for more time to study case materials.
The former minister was brought to the criminal court building, which was surrounded by crowds of demonstrators, in an armored vehicle. Some of the demonstrators demanded the death penalty for al-Adly.
Former President Mubarak stepped down on February 11 after 18 days of large-scale anti-government protests that broke out in Cairo and quickly spread throughout Egypt, leaving more than 350 people dead and about 5,500 injured.
