An Egyptian judge Saturday cleared former President Hosni Mubarak of all remaining charges, which means he may soon be a free man.
Mubarak, 86, faced hundreds of charges for “inciting, arranging and assisting to kill peaceful protesters” during the nation’s uprising in 2011. He also faced charges for allegedly selling Israel deeply-discounted natural gas and for allegedly improper land deals resulting in kickbacks for Mubarak and his family.
The judge who led the panel trying Mubarak said their decision “has nothing to do with politics,” according to the New York Times. The judges said they lacked the jurisdiction to try Mubarak due to him not being included in the charges before massive public demonstrations.
Mubarak, who stepped down from office in February 2011, was carried into the courtroom on a stretcher. He is reportedly in failing health.
This was Mubarak’s second trial on the same charges. The first resulted in a life sentence after he was found guilty, but a retrial was ordered last year.
Mubarak must still serve out a three year sentence previously handed down for corruption, but he is expected to be released in the next few months for time served.
