Egypt

Court acquits former security chief, 13 others from charges of killing protesters in Beni Suef

Beni Suef Criminal Court has acquitted 14 suspects accused of killing protesters on 28 January 2011, known as the "Friday of anger."

Former Beni Suef Security Chief Major General Ahmed Shawky, Central Security employee Mohamed Abdel Maqsoud and Central Security Inspection and Control Department head Mohamed Salah Othman were acquitted along with 11 other soldiers of killing protesters in the governorate during the revolution.

The court also decided to refer two other suspects for investigations on charges of killing protesters.

A source from the Public Prosecution has said that prosecutors will appeal the verdict.

The court had earlier postponed the last session of the trial to hear testimony from former Interior Minister and then-Public Security Chief Ahmed Gamal Eddin, and Giza Security Chief Ahmed Salem al-Naghy, who later drafted public security reports.

Several security leaders were acquitted nationwide of killing protesters charges.

On Sunday, the Court of Cassation ordered a retrial for former President Hosni Mubarak, his former interior minister Habib al-Adly and six of his top security deputies after prosecutors challenged verdicts clearing them of some charges, while Mubarak and Adly had also appealed their life sentences.

President Mohamed Morsy had ordered a fact-finding committee to look for new evidence that could convict Mubarak and Adly on other charges

At least 800 protesters were killed and thousands were injured during a popular uprising in 2011 that led to Mubarak's downfall.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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