Former Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi, has questioned the legality of his new trial, as he appeared before court on charges of taking part in a prison break in 2011.
Morsi and 130 others appeared at the trial in Cairo on Tuesday, over allegations linked to the prison break during the uprising against former dictator, Hosni Mubarak.
Authorities kept Morsi inside a soundproof, glass-encased metal cage during the proceedings, as he was heard telling judges that he remains the country’s legitimate leader and that the court itself is illegal.
“Who are you? Tell me!” Morsi said to presiding Judge, Shabaan el-Shami, who answered, “I am the head of Egypt’s criminal court.”
The former president was flown by helicopter from the Borg Al-Arab prison in Alexandria.
He is already on trial in a separate case on charges of inciting violence against anti-government protests, which is schedule to resume on Saturday.
The case has been delayed twice since it was opened in November of last year.
Egypt’s first democratically-elected president has been implicated in two other cases, one for alleged espionage and conspiracy charges due to open on February 16, and the other for insulting the judiciary for which a date has yet to be set.
Morsi rejects all charges, maintaining that he is still the legitimate president of Egypt.
Egypt has been experiencing unrelenting violence since July 3, 2013, when the army ousted Morsi, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the parliament. It also appointed the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mahmoud Mansour, as the interim president.
GMA/PR/SS
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