Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, approved the addition of Article 8 to the code of military justice. The new article states that the military judiciary will try members of the armed forces charged with illegally acquiring money, whether they are still serving or retired.
It means the military prosecution has all the powers bestowed on investigative authorities by the law of illegal gains.
Saeed al-Gamal, former head of the court of appeal, said that the law is not problematic because it deals with military rulings only, adding that former regime figures should not expect to be tried according to this law.
Atef al-Banna, a law professor at Cairo University, agreed, stressing that officials who once served in the military and are now awaiting trial on charges of illegal gains lost military affiliation on assuming civilian roles. He said Hosni Mubarak lost his military affiliation when he was appointed vice president by then-president Anwar Sadat.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
