A senior Egyptian judge has denied reports that the judge handling the trial of Egypt's toppled President Hosni Mubarak and his sons has been the victim of death threats since the trial began.
Sayyed Abdel Aziz Omar, the head of the Court of Appeals, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that there was no truth to reports that Ahmed Refaat, the president of Cairo's Cirminal Court, had received death threats from Mubarak supporters, dimissing the reports as "baseless." He added that Refaat would have informed him if the threats were real.
Refaat, meanwhile, declined to comment, saying that he does not speak to the media.
Rumors have been circulating on the internet that Refaat had received SMS messages threatening him with death if he did not acquit the former president, who faces charges of corruption and murdering pro-democracy protesters.
Some websites have alleged that Mubarak supporters protested in front of Refaat's house. But police sources in Cairo said they have not received any copmlaints from Refaat about the alleged threats, and that the judge has not asked for extra bodyguards.
Mubarak's trial, which started on 3 August, will resume on Monday. Refaat is expected to hear the testimony of four officials from public funds and administrative control authorities.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
