The Emergency State Security Criminal Court will review a case known widely in the media as “The International Organization,” in which five Muslim Brotherhood leaders are suspected of involvement in money laundering, said the Cairo Appeals Court.
The date of the first trial session has yet to be set. Four of the five suspects will be tried in absentia as they are outside Egypt, while the remaining fifth suspect–Osama Suleiman–has since last April been held in detention by the Public Prosecution pending trial.
Thirty-two members from the Brotherhood were previously suspected of involvement in the case, including three MPs belonging to the organization–Saad el-Katatni, Saad el-Husseiny and Hussein Ibrahim.
Meanwhile, el-Katatni said the remaining five Brotherhood members had been referred for trial because of their positions on the Palestinian question and the upcoming Shura Council elections.
“Referring those five for trial is a move to satisfy the Zionist entity which is imposing a stifling blockade on the Palestinians in Gaza,” el-Katatni said.
Abdel Monem Maqsoud, the Brotherhood’s lawyer, said a team of lawyers will be formed to defend Osama Suleiman, as he is the only one of the five who will be physically present for the trial.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
