Sky News: Mubarak Fined £55m for cutting off Internet 28.0511

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"Mubarak Fined £55m For Cutting Off Internet

2:02pm UK, Saturday May 28, 2011
Egypt's ousted president Hosni Mubarak and two senior members of his regime have been fined 540 million egyptian pounds (£55m) for cutting off mobile phone and internet services during January's protests.

Mubarak, 82, is now under arrest in hospital awaiting trial

An administrative court fined Mubarak 200 million pounds (£20m) and former interior minister Habib al-Adly 300 million pounds (£30m).

Former prime minister Ahmed Nazif was fined 40 million pounds (£4m).

It was the first court ruling against Mubarak since he was ousted following weeks of demonstrations in the capital Cairo and other major cities and towns.

The 82-year-old faces more serious charges including ordering the killing of protesters, a charge which carries the death penalty.

The court ruled that Mubarak, Nazif and Adly were guilty of "causing damages to the national economy" and said the fines would be paid to the country's treasury.

At least 800 people died and over 6,000 were injured during the 18 days of protests that toppled the Mubarak regime.

Telecoms operator Vodafone said in January it and other mobile operators had no choice but to comply with an order to suspend services in selected areas of the country.

In February, the firm also accused the authorities of using its network to send pro-government text messages to subscribers.

Mubarak, who is detained in a hospital in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, has been ordered to stand trial for the deaths of protesters."