Ousted Egypt leader Mohammed Morsi arrives at prison break trial

The case is rooted in the 2011 escape of more than 20,000 inmates from Egyptian prisons, including Morsi.

1 min readCairoJan 28, 2014 07:42 PM IST First published on: Jan 28, 2014 at 12:54 PM IST

Former Egypt president Mohammed Morsi. (Reuters)

Egypt’s state news agency says toppled President Mohammed Morsi has arrived in Cairo for a trial over prison breaks in 2011.

The MENA report Tuesday said Morsi flew by helicopter from Borg al-Arab prison in Alexandria, while some 130 others were driven to Cairo.

The case is rooted in the 2011 escape of more than 20,000 inmates from Egyptian prisons _ including Morsi. Also charged are members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

A lawyer has said the trial appears aimed at ”denigrating” Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood group.

It is Morsi’s second court appearance since Egypt’s popularly backed July 3 military coup. He missed a Jan. 8 hearing in another trial after security officials said bad weather grounded a helicopter meant to bring him.