The Cairo Criminal Court on Tuesday released former Shura Council speaker Safwat al-Sherif on LE50.000 bail, pending his trial over illicit gain charges, state TV reported.
The release came after Sherif filed a grievance at the appeals court claiming that he had been held over the legal detention period. The request was referred to the criminal court for approval.
In April, the prosecutor general ordered Sherif’s detention pending investigation into accusations of graft.
He was accused of “exploiting a public position for his own benefit and the benefit of his family, which led to their accumulating large wealth.”
Later he was accused, among other 23 former senior Egyptian officials, of sending men on horseback and camels to attack protesters during last year’s uprising, which later became known as the Battle of the Camel.
The Camel Battle trial lasted for almost a year. Last October, the court acquitted all 24 defendants, including Sherif, who was one of Mubarak’s closest aides.
