Tearful Mubarak refuses to enter prison: security

CAIRO, Jun 2 – Egypt’s ousted president Hosni Mubarak whose helicopter landed at Tora prison in Cairo after he was sentenced to life in prison wept and refused to leave the aircraft, a security official told AFP.

“He was crying and would not get out of the helicopter. Security officials spent some time convincing him to get out,” the official said. “He’s now convinced and will be entering the prison shortly.”

Judge Ahmed Refaat earlier sentenced Mubarak to life in prison after convicting him of involvement in the murder of protesters during the uprising that ousted him last year.

A senior lawyer for Mubarak’s defence team told AFP the strongman, who was taken to the Cairo prison after the hearing, will appeal the sentence.

Also given a life term for the killings was the 84-year-old former strongman’s interior minister Habib al-Adly, while six ex-police commanders were acquitted.

Corruption charges against Mubarak’s sons Alaa and Gamal were dropped due to the expiry of a statute of limitations, and the former president was acquitted in one of the graft cases.

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