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Hosni Mubarak sons and ex-PM acquitted in corruption trial Hosni Mubarak sons and ex-PM acquitted in corruption trial
(about 14 hours later)
An Egyptian court has acquitted the former president Hosni Mubarak's two sons and his last prime minister of corruption charges.An Egyptian court has acquitted the former president Hosni Mubarak's two sons and his last prime minister of corruption charges.
The Cairo criminal court found Gamal and Alaa Mubarak and Ahmed Shafiq innocent in a case that arose from the sale in 1995 of a plot of land to Mubarak's sons by an association led at the time by the former prime minister, judicial officials said. The Cairo criminal court found Gamal and Alaa Mubarak and Ahmed Shafiq innocent in a case that arose from the sale in 1995 of a plot of land to the then president's sons by an association led at the time by the former prime minister, judicial officials said.
Prosecutors claimed the land was sold to the two at a price lower than its market value. Also acquitted on Thursday were four retired generals who served as board members of the association. Prosecutors claimed the land was sold to the two at a price lower than its market value. Four retired generals who served as board members of the association were also acquitted on Thursday.
Alaa, a wealthy businessman, and Gamal, his father's one-time heir apparent, are facing a separate trial on other corruption charges. They have been held in detention since April 2011, two months after their father resigned in the face of a popular uprising. Alaa Mubarak, a wealthy businessman, and Gamal, the former president's one-time heir apparent, are facing a separate trial on other corruption charges. They have been held in detention since April 2011, two months after their father resigned in the face of a popular uprising.
Shafiq, a career air force officer like Mubarak, has lived in exile abroad since he was narrowly defeated by Mohamed Morsi in a presidential runoff in June 2012. Security officials at Cairo's airport said standing instructions that Shafiq must be arrested on arrival at any of the country's entry ports had been repealed after Thursday's verdict, clearing the way for his return. Shafiq, a career air force officer like Hosni Mubarak, has lived in exile since he was narrowly defeated by Mohamed Morsi in a presidential runoff in June 2012.
It is not clear whether Shafiq plans to resume his involvement in politics. Morsi was toppled in a popularly backed military coup on 3 July and is on trial for inciting murder while awaiting a separate trial on charges of conspiring with foreign militant groups. Security officials at Cairo's airport said orders that Shafiq be arrested on arrival at any of the country's entry ports had been rescinded following Thursday's verdict, clearing the way for his return.
It is unclear whether Shafiq plans to resume his involvement in politics.
Morsi was toppled in a widely backed military coup in July. He is on trial for inciting murder while awaiting a separate trial on charges of conspiring with foreign militant groups.
Mubarak was sentenced to life in 2012 for failing to stop the killing of protesters during the 2011 uprising that ended his 29-year rule. He was acquitted on appeal and is now being retried.Mubarak was sentenced to life in 2012 for failing to stop the killing of protesters during the 2011 uprising that ended his 29-year rule. He was acquitted on appeal and is now being retried.
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