Egypt Revolution 2013: Hosni Mubarak Released, Transferred to House Arrest
Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak emerged from prison today with a smile on his face before being transported to a military hospital for house arrest, according to several reports.
Mubarak's transfer to house arrest is more or less a safety measure at this point considering the violence and unstable political situation in Egypt. He requested that he be placed in a hospital.
Mubarak was transported via helicopter and arrived safely to his destination. A court ordered the release of the 85-year-old earlier this week after he served a prison sentence for accepting gifts from the media. He was released under the condition that he repays the money and gifts he received.
Yassir Mohammad Sayyid Ahmad, a lawyer for Egyptian families, told the Washington Post that Mubarak might have already made repayments. "The prosecution has no legal ground to appeal the decision of his release, as Mubarak paid the money he took, and has no legal ground for his detention," he said.
Despite his release, Mubarak is not necessarily off the hook; he may have to return to court to face other allegations.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Morsi has been detained since he was ousted Jul. 3. Morsi was the nation's first democratically elected president and was in office from June 2012 until he was overthrown last month.
Supporters from Morsi's party, the Muslim Brotherhood, have had bloody clashes with police, and the death toll has exceeded 1,000. Mohamed Badie, the spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, was imprisoned earlier this week on allegations of murder and spying.
Many worry that Mubarak's release from prison will bring increased violence, although the clashes are expected to continue regardless.
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