Morsi suffered chronic diseases, received medical care: official source

CAIRO - 18 June 2019: Ousted president Mohamed Morsi, 67, who died from heart attack on Monday, according to preliminary medical assessment had recieved continuous medical care, and his health conidition had not been ignored, a medical official said.

Morsi was the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood Organization, which was designated by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Russia as a terrorist group.

The medical source said that Egypt prison service had cooperated with a number of hospitals to serve Morsi and look after his condition.

In February, 2017, Morsi was moved to a private hospital as he had always complained of a pain in his left arm, the official said. He was moved to the Police Hospital in Agouza. A medical committee said he suffered diabetes, high blood pressure, and a chronic inflamation of nerves.

Morsi also suffered a benign tumor in the vessels lining the brain, and seizures on the left side of the face, according to the official.

In June 2017, the head of the Cairo Criminal Court ordered carrying out a medical check-up on Morsi, the official said, affirming that the results were identical to the first check-up. In November of the same year, another medical committee of 10 doctors was formed, and affirmed the diseases Morsi had suffered, especially high blood pressure and diabetes diseases.

Morsi had been put under periodic medical care accordingly since 2017 and was provided required medical treatment, he said, adding that all documents proving that Morsi receieved the proper medical care are abailable and will be submitted to the relevant parties.

During his retrial on Monday in a case dubbed in media as “Espionage with Hamas,” Morsi fainted and fell on the ground; he was immediately transported to the hospital and then he was found dead. Morsi fell down reportedly after his lawyer ended his argument and after Morsi was given the chance to speak to the court.

Morsi took post as president in 2012 following the January 25 revolution in 2011 which forced former president Hosni Mubarak to step down. However, wide and agry protests in June 2013 overthrew Morsi from power. Subsequently, Egyptian authorities banned the Muslim Brotherhood group and arrested brotherhood top leaders.

Late in the same year, the Muslim Brotherhood was designated as terrorist group.

Since 2013, Morsi was being prosecuted in custody as he was facing several charges, including espionage, killing protesters, prison escape, and judiciary insult.

In 2015, Morsi was sentenced to death in the jailbreak lawsuit. A year later, the sentence was cancelled by the Court of Cassation. In 2017, Morsi was handed three years in prison for judiciary insult.

In 2016, Morsi was given a life sentence in an espionage lawsuit as he was charged with spying for Qatar. A year later, the sentence was upheld by the Court of Cassation.

Morsi was also serving a final 20-year prison sentence for killing protesters.