An Egyptian court has overturned former President Hosni Mubarak’s conviction on embezzlement charges and ordered a retrial.
The Court of Cassation ruled Tuesday that Mubarak and his two sons will stand trial again, after accepting their appeal, state-media reported.
Mubarak, his sons Gamal and Alaa, and four new defendants are accused of embezzling $17.9 million allocated for the renovation of presidential palaces.
Mubarak was sentenced last year to three years in prison; his sons to four years each.
They have maintained their innocence. The Mubaraks appealed, saying their sentences were too harsh.
Mubarak ruled Egypt as president for 29 years before he was ousted during the Arab Spring protests.
In another case, he was convicted in 2012 of issuing orders to kill peaceful protesters during the country’s 2011 uprising and was sentenced to life in prison. He appealed and was granted a new trial last year.
In November, he was cleared of those charges and of corruption.
