Security and judicial sources dropped bombshells in the Hussein bombing case, as they affirmed that top state bodies asked to meet the seven accused. This, though, has made it impossible to bring them to the Supreme State Security Prosecution within 24 hours from their arrest as set forth by the law, the sources added. If the defense of the accused can prove this delay, the procedures become invalid and the accused might be acquitted if they appear before the court. Speaking on conditions of anonymity, the sources said that the foreign accused who formed a terrorist organization led by some Egyptians currently on the run outside the country - according to the ministry statement - have been asked to appear before the prosecution and to inform their embassies of the date of their arrest. Although the ministry announced their arrest on a later date than the one announced by the Interior Ministry in its statement last Saturday, they have not appeared before the Prosecution yet.
This violates the Article 36 of the Code of Criminal Procedures, which states that the judicial officer must immediately hear the people arrested and if nothing is found to acquit them, they must be brought to the Prosecution within 24 hours from the date of their arrest. According to the sources, the Legislation Affairs Committee of the People's Assembly had requested to amend this article in the Anti-Terrorism Law submitted to the Council, especially when it comes to suspects in terrorism cases. This way, the Investigation Bureau could conduct its investigations without the pressure of having to bring the accused to the Prosecution.
A judicial source at the Public Prosecution said that whoever arrests someone must inform the competent prosecution about the date of the arrest and, that the accused must be brought to the Prosecution within 24 hour from their arrest. However, the source added that some cases, such as libel and damage – the source called them "simple cases" – are put altogether and submitted to the prosecution weekly, and that the Code of Criminal Proceedings usually does not apply on them although this violates the law. Another security source said that in terror cases, a secret decision may be taken by the Prosecution to detain the accused without them appearing before the investigating body. Otherwise, according to the source, an agreement may be reached between the Prosecution and whoever arrested the accused to set the time and the date of their appearance appeared before the Prosecution so that the Code of Criminal Procedures is not violated.
