Hassan Abdel-Rahman, the head of state security during the Mubarak era, has been released from custody on health grounds during the first day of his trial for destroying documents at the now-dissolved state security body.

Forty other security officials are also on trial at the Giza Criminal Court.

After the January 25 Revolution, several state security buildings were stormed by activists hoping to find evidence of torture or other abuses committed during the Mubarak era. However, most documents had been shredded or burned in what many suspected was a deliberate act to destroy evidence.

Abdel-Rahman and five other defendants were cleared in June of killing protesters during the revolution. Mubarak and former interior minister Habib El-Adly were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment during the same trial. Abdel-Rahman remained in custody until he was released today.