Former President Hosni Mubarak is refusing to leave the helicopter that transported him to the maximum security Tora prison complex from his sentencing Saturday morning at Cairo's Police Academy.
Egyptian state TV has reported that Mubarak is suffering from health problems but did not elaborate.
A judge sentenced Mubarak, along with his former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly, to 25 years in prison for failing to stop the killing of protesters during the 18-day uprising that led to his departure from office. Mubarak's two sons, Alaa and Gamal, were acquitted of corruption charges, but will continue to be held in Tora Prison due to pending charges against them in a separate case regarding a bank sale. Six of Adly's deputies were found not guilty of involvement in killing protesters.
The public prosecutor’s office ordered Mubarak transferred to the hospital at Tora prison.
He was previously being held at the International Medical Center. Local and international media recently reported that the former president was living in comfortable conditions, with regular access to his family and a swimming pool.
A member of the International Medical Center’s staff told Reuters that Mubarak was in good health.
Mubarak appeared in court lying on a stretcher.
Al-Masry Al-Youm reported that Mubarak’s companions spent 20 minutes trying to convince him to exit the helicopter.
