CAIRO: In one of the first televised trials of a former regime figure, the Cairo Criminal Court adjourned on Monday the trial of former information minister Anas El-Fiqqi to Sept. 18. The same court also adjourned the trial of former head of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU) Osama El-Sheikh to July 19 to hear the testimonies of the rest of the witnesses. El-Fiqqi and El-Sheikh are charged with depriving ERTU of about $1.9 million in profits by exempting private television stations from fees for live broadcasts of the 2009-2010 football season and the start of the 2010-2011 season. Defense lawyers urged the court to release the defendants pending investigation, saying that Ramadan is approaching and that the defendants wish to dedicate their time to prayers and worship. Head of the Cairo Criminal Court said that the court is keen on having a swift trial that does not violate the rights of defendants or the society. Transmission was cut after the head of the court ordered journalists not to record any of the witnesses' testimonies, saying it was illegal.
