Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak
Former Egyptian President Hosni MubarakIsrael news photo: Flash 90

An Egyptian court on Thursday acquitted the former interior minister under Hosni Mubarak of charges of corruption and money laundering, The Associated Press (AP) reported, citing a judicial official.

The verdict in the retrial of Habib el-Adly lifted a 12-year jail term and 15 million Egyptian pound ($2.5 million) fine issued by a court in May 2011.

Al-Adly still faces other retrials, including one on charges of killing protesters during the 2011 popular uprising that toppled Mubarak, as well as another corruption-related case.

The verdict acquitting al-Adly comes one day after a prominent activist of the 2011 revolt was sentenced to 15 years in jail after being convicted of organizing an unauthorized protest and assaulting a policeman.

The sentence against Alaa Abdel-Fattah and 24 others drew criticism from international and local human rights groups.

It was the first conviction of a prominent activist since former army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi took office as president on Sunday.

Prosecutors accused Abdel-Fattah, who was arrested in November, of organizing an illegal demonstration and illegal possession of an object that could be used as a weapon. He and 24 other defendants are accused of using force against police, blocking traffic and posing a threat to public safety and order.

All were tried in absentia, meaning that there will be an automatic retrial, according to AP.

Mubarak himself was recently sentenced to three years in prison, after being convicted for embezzling public funds.

Mubarak's two sons, Alaa and Gamal, were also convicted and were each sentenced to four-year prison terms.