Egypt: mixed reactions after Mubarak's appeal rejected

Egyptians have expressed mixed views after the Cairo Court of Cassation rejected on Saturday, January, 9. the appeal made by former president Hosni Mubarak and his two sons against their three-year imprisonment in what is popularly known as the “presidential palaces” case.

“The judgment is actually meaningless, because this sentence cannot even be executed to him, as he already spent over four years in detention. There will be no more three years for him,” said a Cairo resident.

For most of Egyptians, the course of the case worn off their interests and attention and although many hold different views on whether the former president is not guilty, most of them agree that it was time the case ended.

“Even if he’s sentenced to death, what will it bring to our ordinary people? What benefit can we get from it?” another Egyptian said, stressing that it’s time to get Mubarak behind and go forward.

The Cassations Court decided to support the Cairo Criminal Court’s May 2015 ruling to imprison Mubarak and his sons, Alaa and Gamal, for three years and to fine them 125 million and 779 thousand EGP. The three were also obliged to repay 21 million and 107 thousand EGP.

The three were charged with diverting public funds and using the money to upgrade family properties.

Held in custody since April 2011, Mubarak’s two sons were released on January 26, after spending maximum time in preventative detention.

Their trial for manipulating the stock market took place while they were outside prison. As of now, Mubarak is also not imprisoned and resides in a military hospital in Maadi.