Mubarak Faking Bad Health at Court Appearances

CAIROㅡ Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is seen inside a cell in the still image taken from CNN news on Aug. 15, 2011 in the courtroom for his trial at the Police Academy in Cairo, Egypt. Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's trial resumed in Cairo's Police Academy on Monday. (Xinhua)

Egypt’s former leader Hosni Mubarak has been exaggerating the extent of his medical problems at recent court appearances on charges of complicity in the killings of hundreds of protesters during the popular uprising that ousted him from power, Egyptian media said on Monday.
“He sits in his chair and watches television, walks around with relatives and talks on the telephone,” media outlets quoted a source in the Cairo hospital where the man who led Egypt for almost 30 years is detained.

Mubarak, 84, has been lying almost motionless on a stretcher during his trial, dark glasses covering his eyes. Recent reports have said his health is deteriorating fast and there have been rumors of his brief clinical death. Doctors have however dismissed such rumors.
Parliamentarians have been attempting to have Mubarak transferred from hospital to a prison ward.

The verdict and sentencing for Mubarak, who has pleaded not guilty, are due on June 2. A guilty verdict could see him face the death sentence. Analysts say a not guilty verdict could spark more violence in Egypt.

Mubarak was overthrown in February 2011 after an 18-day popular uprising. Over 800 people were killed during the revolution, many of them protesters shot dead by security forces. <Cihan>

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