Cairo, Jul 17: Ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak who is under detention in a hospital at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh and is facing trial for corruption and murder has slipped in a coma after severe deterioration of his health, his lawyer said today.
“The former president is in a full coma after his health suddenly deteriorated,” the state TV reported, quoting his lawyer Farid al-Dib.
Mubarak, 83, has been in a Sharm el-Sheikh hospital since April. He had suffered a heart attack during interrogation over fraud and the killing of pro-democracy protesters during the uprising which ousted him in February. He is set to go on trial on August 3 on charges of corruption and murder.
Mubarak's trial would most likely be held in Sharm el-Sheikh for security reasons, officials said yesterday. The former Egyptian ruler could either be put in the dock or questioned by court officials in his hospital room, with the rest of the trial proceedings taking place in a court room, the official said.
The news was aired on state-owned stations. This comes as news has been trickling to the media about the cabinet reshuffle Egypt's Prime Minister Essam Sharaf will present to the Supreme Council of Armed Forces. The reshuffle today is to please the protesters who have been staging a sit-in for the past week in request of faster reform.
The news of the comatose president is expected to cover news of the cabinet reshuffle. Egyptians via social media already doubt the authenticity of the story accusing the Supreme Council of scheming to spare the ousted president a trial slated for August 3. PTI
