Questions Mubarak declined to answer without permission

CAIRO - 27 December 2018: Former President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, who ruled the country for 30 years, gave testimony on Wednesday in one of the most sensitive national security cases. However, his testimony was remarkably incomplete due to "absence of legal permission."

Mubarak insisted not to answer a number of questions concerning national security in the lawsuit known as “the illegal crossing of eastern borders” unless he obtains permission from the Egyptian Armed Forces and President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.

Former ousted President Mohamed Morsi and 28 members of the Muslim Brotherhood organization and Palestinian Hamas are involved in the case.

He said that he wants to "protect" himself, adding that if he spoke without the required permission, he would commit an offense. He affirmed that he would "say everything" if he was handed a permission.

Mubarak was asked to confirm or deny the testimony of Abdel Latif al-Hadi, director of the State Security Intelligence in North Sinai, in which he said that the Muslim Brotherhood coordinated with Hamas, Hezbollah and the United States to implement a plan to create chaos and instability in Egypt and seize power to facilitate the implementation of the plan to cut off a part of Sinai. Turkey participated in this plan, according to the testimony.

Mubarak said he did not hear about such plan, adding later that “there are many plots but I can’t talk about them unless I get permission.”

Asked about the Muslim Brotherhood's role in some chaotic incidents, Mubarak also declined to answer.

Judge Mohamed Sherine Fahmi asked Mubarak if people intruded the borders during the incidents of January revolution in 2011. The former president said that Former General Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman told him that around 800 militants intruded the borders.

Mubarak refused to answer when asked if the intruders belonged to “Hamas, a neighboring country,” and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRSC). “I am not allowed to talk about details,” he said.

Answering how he dealt with the tunnels issue, Mubarak said “each tunnel was ramified leading to exits in houses, farms, and different areas," adding: “We destroyed many. We agreed with the Defense Ministry to get rid of those tunnels. A shooting from Gaza used to target those who were in charge of destroying the tunnels. That continued until January 25, 2011,” Mubarak affirmed. However, he declined to give more details, saying that he does not want to talk about that because it is sensitive.

Our intelligence detected 800 militant intruders in January 2011: Mubarak

CAIRO - 26 December 2018: Former President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak testified before the Criminal Court refusing to answer certain questions in the “Border Intrusion” case and insisting he needs a permission to disclose classified information.