Mubarak may face death penalty

Former President Hosni Mubarak was rushed Friday to a military hospital in Sharm el Sheikh, even as it was reported that he could face the death penalty if a pending probe proves that he ordered the crackdown against demonstrators that left at least 385 dead, state media said Friday.

Zakaria Shalash, head of Cairo’s appeals court, was quoted by the state-owned newspaper al-Ahram as saying that the former president may face the death penalty after a trial he expects will last at least one year.

While official figures state that the 18-day revolution that began on January 25 left a total number of 385 dead and injured 5,000, AFP places the death toll at 800.

Earlier this week, the 83-year-old Mr. Mubarak and his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, were remanded in 15-day custody after prosecutors launched the probe.

The former president was detained after his Interior Minister Habib al-Adly stated that Mr. Mubarak himself ordered the use of violence against protesters, said Mr. Shalash.

Mr. al-Adly also faces charges of ordering the shootings and can be made an accomplice to Mr. Mubarak’s alleged crime.

“If proven, Mr. Mubarak will receive the same punishment as the person who carried out the orders,” said Mr. Shalash.

Al-Ahram reports a corruption panel will start questioning Mr. Mubarak and his sons next week on suspicion of graft. The former president could face between three to 15 years in prison if proven guilty.

Protests in Egypt intensified over the demands that Mr. Mubarak be put on trial for his alleged crimes. Opposition groups suspended a planned demonstration on Friday after the detention of the former president and his sons.

According to public radio reports on Friday afternoon, Mr. Mubarak was transferred to a military hospital where he will continue to be treated for a heart ailment, while his sons are being held in a Cairo prison.

(Dina al-Shibeeb of Al Arabiya