CAIRO - A Cairo policeman will go on trial shortly following the death of a microbus driver in Abood Terminal on Thursday afternoon, which witnessed a travel chaos before Eid el-Adha holiday, prosecutors have said. Warrant Sergeant Ahmed Abdul Aziz will be detained for four days after the prosecutors accused him of "unlawful arrest" and "excessive use of force" against Abdul Rahman Mahmoud, 22, whose death sparked protests and clashes at the Abood Microbus Terminal. According to witnesses to the incident, Abdul Rahman was approached by plainclothes policemen, led by Abdul Aziz demanding him to pay protection money. They also added that large-scale scuffles broke out with police who tried to disperse the demonstrators. "When Abdul Rahman refused to pay the policeman, he started beating him. He ran away as Abdul Aziz chased him. When Abdul Aziz caught Abdul Rahman, he pushed the frightened driver into the nearby Ismailia Canal, where he drowned," the witnesses told the prosecutors. An autopsy ordered by the Chief Prosecutor Abdul Meguid Mahmoud concluded that Abdul Rahman had died of asphyxiation and a nervous shock after the policeman pushed him into the water. Lawyers for Abdul Rahman's parents have asked the prosecutors to stiffen the charges against the policeman to premeditated murder. The prosecutors ordered that Abdul Aziz is to remain in custody for four days pending further interrogations. Ahead of Sunday's probe, Abdul Rahman's son Mohamed said: “My father will get his rights.” However, the policemen insisted he had a good reputation and was only following orders.
