On Monday, the Cairo Criminal Court will decide whether former Vice President Omar Suleiman, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi and Interior Minister Mansour al-Essawy will be called to testify in the trial of former President Hosni Mubarak, his two sons, former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and six aides, said judicial sources.
The defendants are being tried on charges of squandering public money and inciting the killing of protesters.
Ahmed Refaat, head of the Cairo Criminal Court and the judge presiding over the trial, will discuss with lawyers the reasons behind requesting these witnesses and determine whether they will be called, said the sources.
Military sources said if Refaat asks for the testimony of any military official, that official will attend.
The lawyers said the testimony of Tantawi, head of the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), would determine the fate of the defendants. This would be particularly so regarding the senior Mubarak on the charge of killing demonstrators, as the former president said during questioning that he held a meeting on 22 January with officials and gave orders to Adly to exercise self-restraint, not use violence against protesters, and protect public facilities. Lawyers said Tantawi attended the meeting, which means his testimony would be necessary for Mubarak's conviction.
One of the civil right lawyers said the charge of killing demonstrators is complicated, as each defendant is accusing his boss of issuing the order to shoot. He said if Adly says Mubarak did not give him orders to shoot protesters, Mubarak will be acquitted.
Regarding current Interior Minister Essawy's testimony, the lawyer said if he says the snipers who shot at protesters were not affiliated with the Interior Ministry, this would improve the defendants' position.
They said that calling Suleiman would determine Mubarak's fate on the charge of a corrupt deal for gas exports to Israel. Judicial sources said the lawyers will request the testimony of Sameh Fahmy, former petroleum minister, and other ministry officials, but reminded that this charge has been postponed until 10 September.
Informed sources said the former president will attend the second session today, as his health has improved, and will be accompanied by Yasser Abdel Kader, a professor of oncology at Cairo University, and a number of doctors who have been monitoring his health.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
