Egypt puts former auditor on trial for exposing corruption

CAIRO (AP) - Egypt's former top auditor who exposed massive corruption in the country has gone on trial on charges that include spreading "false news."

Hisham Genena, himself a former judge, has appeared before the Cairo Criminal Court but reporters were barred from the hearings. Charges against him also include "disturbing" the country's security.

During Tuesday's brief session, Genena's lawyers asked for an adjournment in order to have more time to study the case.

Last December, Genena went public, saying that corruption is costing the country billions of dollars. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi later dismissed him, capping a series of measures critics say were aimed at sacking the chief auditor after speaking up against corruption.

Genena was detained for a day earlier in June but released after his family paid bail.