Egyptian prison authority denies Mubarak release as part of ‘over sixty’ pardon
Story emerges amid reports that the deposed President smuggled billions out of the country
Elhanan Miller is the former Arab affairs reporter for The Times of Israel
Sources in Egypt’s prison authority denied reports Sunday that deposed President Hosni Mubarak and members of his regime would be released from prison as part of a general pardon for ailing prisoners over the age of sixty.
Establishment daily Al-Gomhuria reported on its website that Mubarak, who was returned to Tora prison from a military hospital earlier this month following an improvement in his medical condition could be included in the pardon pending a decision by a medical committee.
According to the daily, all Egyptian prisons have received a communique requesting them to separate prisoners over the age of 60 who suffer from chronic or age-related diseases.
The general pardon, reported the daily, was expected to include all members of Mubarak’s government as well as Mubarak himself, but will not include his sons Alaa and Gamal who are under 60 and in good health.
But on Sunday afternoon sources in Egypt’s prison authority told the independent Egyptian daily Al-Masry Al-Youm that the pardon will only apply to prisoners who have already served 20 years in prison, and were sentenced to life. Mubarak and his notorious interior minister Habib Adli would not benefit from the decision as they have not served that long, the daily reported.
Interior Minister Muhammad Ibrahim also told Egyptian media Sunday that the pardon would not include members of the former regime.
News of the prisoner release comes amid reports that 84-year-old Mubarak — sentenced to life in prison for his involvement in the killing of protesters during the popular uprising that began in January of 2011 — deposited billions of dollars in offshore bank accounts as the revolution broke out.
Egyptian media reported Saturday, based on sources in the country’s General Intelligence, that Mubarak’s personal wealth is estimated at $70 billion and was deposited in bank accounts in Switzerland, the UK and and the US. Mubarak had also allegedly established an arms trading company with fleeing Egyptian businessman Hussein Salem in Paris.
The Times of Israel Community.