The Egyptian Public Prosecution on Monday issued a statement denying any criminal suspicion in the death of Ayman Hadhoud, an economic researcher and member of the Supreme Authority of the Reform and Development Party.
Its statement iterated that his death was due to “a chronic heart condition”.
Egyptian and international human rights organizations called for an investigation into the incident, in light of the controversy surrounding the circumstances of the death of Hadhoud, whose family said he had disappeared since February.
They only learned earlier in April of his death in the Abbasiya Psychiatric Hospital in March.
“Investigations concluded to no criminal suspicion in the death of Hadhoud, after the Public Prosecution received the report of the Forensic Medicine Authority that the autopsy was performed on his body, which confirmed his death as a result of a chronic heart condition, and that his body was free from any traces of injury that indicate the occurrence of criminal violence or resistance,” the prosecution said.
It added that the investigation papers were also devoid of any evidence suggesting foul play.
The Public Prosecution completed investigation procedures into the incident after issuing its first statement on the matter on April 12.
It said it that heard the testimony of the brother of the deceased, Omar Hadhoud, who appeared before the Public Prosecution after the statement was issued, and testified that he suspected that his brother’s death was of criminal play after he saw his body at the time of receiving it for burial.
The statement noted that “The witness said he intended that his brother was going to receive treatment in a hospital because he was experiencing psychological issues as a result of financial distress and their sister’s illness, and the treatment was postponed. He confirmed the precedent of finding the deceased twice in a state like the one in which he was arrested.”
The Interior Ministry’s said earlier this month that “On February 6, it was informed by a guard of a building in Zamalek area in Cairo of the presence of the aforementioned (Hadhoud) inside the property and his attempt to break the door of one of the apartments and committing irresponsible behavior.”
The Interior Ministry said that “Legal measures were taken at the time and he was placed in a psychiatric hospital based on the decision of the Public Prosecution.”
