Former Interior Minister Mansour al-Essawy disbursed monthly bonuses to his predecessor Habib al-Adly after the latter was detained, independent daily Al-Shorouk said Monday. Adly faces charges of murdering protesters during the January 2011 uprising.
On its website Monday, the newspaper published a photocopy of a document submitted by one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers to the Cairo Criminal Court, which is handling the trial of Adly, former President Hosni Mubarak, and six former security officials over the murder charges.
It said the document proves Essawy, who was removed along with the cabinet of former Prime Minister Essam Sharaf in December, disbursed monthly rewards to all police officers facing charges of ordering the killing of protesters.
According to the document, Essawy's decision was categorized “secret/personal,” and was directed to “the heads of the Interior Ministry departments.” The document says the rewards were meant to “raise the [suspected] officers’ morale, and strengthen their sense of belonging and their dedication to their noble mission.”
By the minister’s decree, the amounts disbursed were based on the recipient’s ranks and social statuses, ranging between LE1200 and LE1800 per officer.
Attorney General Abdel Meguid Mahmoud on Thursday ordered an investigation of the interior ministers who have held the office since the 25 January revolution.
In addition to Mahmoud Wagdy and Essawy, Hamed Abdallah, the head of national security, will also be investigated on the charge of hiding evidence that incriminates deposed President Hosni Mubarak in the killing of demonstrators.
Al-Ahram state newspaper on Thursday reported that Mahmoud ordered the investigation after he received a complaint filed by a lawyer. In his complaint, Hassaballah accuses Mubarak of using his influence and the Interior Ministry to continue terrorizing, killing and arresting his opposition after leaving office.
The objective of these officials after they took office was to conceal, distort, obliterate and destroy all incriminating evidence belonging to former regime figures, the complaint alleges.
