Egyptian former interior minister faces criminal trial

Egypt’s former interior minister Habib al-Adly faced trial for money-laundering, marking the first member of ousted president Hosni Mubarak’s regime to be taken to court.

5 March 2011, 12:00am

Following a corruption investigation by the new authorities, Al-Adly was arrested last month along with several former minister and senior members of Mubarak’s National Democratic Party.

A few days into the protests with led to former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak ousting, police disappeared from the streets, sparking accusations that Adly had deliberately sought to sow disorder.

The former interior minister is also being investigated for ordering the shooting or protesters and creating a security vacuum.

It is believed the protests left at least 384 people dead and over 6,000 injured, while scores were detained.