The former head of the dissolved State Security Investigation Services will stay in prison despite being acquitted yesterday, due to charges of destroying the agency’s documents, a security source told the state-run news agency MENA.
Major General Hassan Abdel Rahman, along with five former Interior Ministry officials, was found not guilty Saturday of killing protesters during the 25 January uprising last year.
In March 2011, protesters broke into the state security building and found that many documents were destroyed, apparently to hide evidence of widespread illegal practices.
Former Interior Minister Mansour al-Essawy ordered the dissolution of the notorious apparatus the same month.
Hosni Mubarak’s regime was frequently accused of using state security as tool to suppress political opposition and freedoms through torturing opponents and activists.
Abdel Rahman’s acquittal stirred up anger among Egyptians and revolutionary forces who consider the brutal practices of the security apparatus a main reason for the eruption of the revolution.
Edited translation from MENA
