Egypt's top appeals court has ordered the retrial of deposed President Hosni Mubarak and his two sons in a corruption case, a move that could pave the way for the former autocrat's release.
The Appeals Court announced its ruling in a brief session Tuesday, carried live on several Egyptian TV networks.
#Mubarak supporters celebrating outside Court of Cassation after retrial ordered. pic.twitter.com/oxoHUrhzJq— Kate Benyon-Tinker (@katebt3000) January 13, 2015
The earlier verdict had sentenced Mubarak to three years imprisonment and his sons, Alaa and Gamal, to four years each while four other defendants were acquitted. Mubarak's lawyers appealed that ruling.
It's the only case keeping Mubarak behind bars. When a new court is assigned to look into the case, it could order Mubarak freed pending the trial.
Mubarak has been cleared in the case over the killing of protesters during Egypt's 2011 uprising.