A Cairo criminal court on Thursday acquitted Mubarak-era interior minister Habib El-Adly of corruption charges, paving the way for his release, his lawyer said. El-Adly was cleared of charges of using his political influence to acquire illicit gains amounting to LE181 million. The former minister has faced a number of serious charges since the 2011 revolution saw him removed from his post. Mubarak and El-Adly were both charged with causing the death of protesters during that uprising. An initial conviction saw both men sentenced to life in prison, but in November 2014 the court dropped the charges against Mubarak while clearing El-Adly and his top aides. Thursday's verdict marks the final trial El-Adly is currently facing, according to his lawyer, Essam El-Batawy, who told Ahram Online his client will be released "within days." The lawyer said his defendant has completed his sentences, including a three-year jail term on another corruption case for charges related to exploiting policemen and security vehicles for private purposes, and a one-month sentence for failing to uphold an administrative court decision while in office. "[El-Adly] will be at home in three, four days' time," El-Batawy said. The court on Thursday also ordered that a freeze in funds belonging to El-Adly and his family be lifted. Several Mubarak-era figures have been recently released pending retrials on charges of corruption. In February, El-Adly and Mubarak-era prime minister Ahmed Nazif were cleared of corruption charges over a deal to import car licence plates at an excessively high price. Nazif is also facing a retrial over other corruption charges. El-Adly also saw an initial 12-year sentence and LE15 million fine lifted over charges of corruption and money laundering in a separate case. Police brutality and human rights abuses were among the catalysts that helped ignite the 2011 revolt that swept long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak from power. Overhauling the notorious security apparatus has been a longstanding demand of rights activists and opposition figures. Source: Al-Ahram online
