CAIRO: The Giza Criminal Court upheld Monday a ten-year jail sentence and a 257, 000 EGP ($35,000) fine against a defendant over charges of attacking the Egyptian Media Production City (EMPC) in August, 2013, Youm7 reported.
On June 5, Ibrahim Mohamed, along with other 22 defendants were sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison over the said charge while 13 others were acquitted. The convict, along with other 18 defendants were tried in absentia.
During the previous court sessions, Mohamed’s lawyer asked the court to hold a retrial so that his client would hand himself into the police. Hence, the court in Monday session upheld the previous sentence as the convict did not.
According to the Egyptian Criminal code, if a convict sentenced in absentia, he/she shall be retried after being arrested or handing himself into the police.
According to the investigation, the convicts were charged with inciting violence, attempting murder, sabotaging the EMPC causing damage estimated at 250,000 EGP.
Following the ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, pro-Muslim Brotherhood protests were staged nationwide; acts of violence took place and public utilities were sabotaged.