CAIRO: The South Cairo Criminal Court postponed the verdict on the contaminated Hidelina blood bags case to Nov.19. In a crowded session on Thursday morning, where none of the defendants were present, the Egyptian court postponed the verdict for next month in a controversial case that dates back to 2007. Seven officials from Hidelina company that manufactures blood bags as well as officials from the Ministry of Health were accused of delivering over 200,000 contaminated blood bags that do not conform with the ministry's standards. The blood bags were ripe with bacteria and fungi that, some doctors said can cause cancer and hepatitis. Among those charged is factory owner Hani Sorour, who is also a former MP affiliated with the National Democratic Party. Sorour was stripped of his parliamentary immunity in January 2007. Also charged were Dr Helmi Salah Al-Din, general manager of the blood unit at the Ministry of Health; Dr Mohamed Wagdan, chairman of the technical center in Hidelina; Nivan Sorour, Sorour's sister and board member in Hidelina; as well as three other company employees. On Nov.7, 2008 the Cairo Appeals Court overturned a previous Criminal Court ruling exonerating those implicated in the Hidelina case and ordered a retrial upon request from Prosecutor General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud.
