The Cairo Criminal Court Monday adjourned the espionage trial of former President Mohamed Morsi—who did not attend the hearing—and a number of Muslim Brotherhood codefendants, to Oct. 14 in order to “implement the demands of the defense,” Youm7 reported.
The court received a letter stating that Morsi was not transported to the court due to “security reasons,” Youm7 quoted presiding Judge Shabaan el-Shami as saying.
Morsi and 18 other defendants are being tried directly in the case in addition to 17 others being tried in absentia. They are accused of collaborating with foreign organizations to execute acts of terrorism in Egypt, revealing national security secrets to a foreign country, funding terrorists and organizing military training to achieve the goals of the international organization of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The former president is also being tried in two other cases. In one he is charged with escaping from Wadi al-Natroun Prison during the January 25 Revolution and complicity in killing at least 10 protesters outside the Ithadeya presidential palace in December 2013.
In the other, he is accused of insulting the judiciary and leaking national security documents to Qatar.
No hearings have been set for the latter two cases thus far, but the case regarding the Qatar charges is expected to begin soon, as investigations are complete.
