Egypt

Former assembly speaker to be released pending graft investigation

Cairo Criminal Court upheld on Wednesday the decision to release former People's Assembly Speaker Fathi Sorour in a graft case under investigation.

The Illicit Gains Authority had ordered Sorour detained for 15 days pending an investigation into his personal wealth and sources of income. 

Sorour appealed the decision in Cairo Criminal Court, which decided Tuesday to release him pending investigations, but the Illicit Gain Authority then challenged the release decision. On Wednesday, a different circuit of court judges upheld the decision to release him.

Sorour's defense attorney argued his detention was unjustified since he is not likely to flee the country and his location is known to the authorities.

He previously stood trial alongside 23 other defendants on charges of being responsible for the killing of protesters on 2 and 3 February last year in the Battle of the Camel. All the defendants were acquitted because witness testimonies were based on hearsay and grudges, according to the court.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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