Public opinion will not sway the sentencing of former officials accused of corruption or killing protesters, a prominent judge has told state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram.
Cairo Court of Appeals Chairman Abdel Aziz Omar is the chief judge responsible for trials of former officials from ex-president Hosni Mubarak's regime who are accused of killing protesters during the 25 January revolution.
"I will not satisfy the public at the expense of my religion and conscience,” Omar said.
He also discussed his authority over other judges.
"I have a specific responsibility which I cannot overstep in order to ensure the pace of the trials in the courts is adjusted,” said Omar. “I have no authority over any judge in his district and cannot order him or direct him toward a specific sentence."
Protesters demanding speedy trials for icons of the Mubarak regime have demonstrated in Tahrir Square and other main squares in Egypt for the past two weeks.
Omar went on to say that justice cannot be served according to a timetable.
"Justice is realized when all its elements come together," Omar said.
“The defendants have rights that the court must meet as long as the demands are logical, and the court must give them their chance to defend themselves,” said Omar.
He said that speedy sentencing in complicated cases could cause the sentences to later be ruled invalid, since the Court of Cassation's first consideration is to give the defendant a chance to defend himself.
"I hope the public will allow the court to give a fair ruling, and that it trusts these rulings are not driven by personal desires or motives, but rather by the value of justice, the provisions of the law and the judges' fear of God," he added.
Omar said it was not in the interest of society to question the integrity of judicial rulings.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
