Sarah Khalifa and 11 defendants sentenced to death in major drug case
The Cairo Criminal Court, sitting in New Cairo, sentenced former producer and television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death by hanging on Saturday in the case known in the media as the "major drug case." The Public Prosecution charged the defendants with forming an organized criminal gang specialized in importing substances used in the manufacture of narcotics from abroad for the purpose of trafficking, in addition to the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
The case involved 28 defendants referred by the prosecution to the Criminal Court. In addition to the death sentences, the court sentenced nine defendants to life imprisonment and acquitted seven others. Al-Ahram newspaper reported that authorities seized more than 750 kilograms of narcotic substances and raw materials used in manufacturing, as well as tools and machinery in two residential apartments. In a separate case, the court sentenced Khalifa and others to five years in prison after convicting them of detaining and assaulting a young man.
The verdict was delivered after the court referred the defendants' papers to the Grand Mufti of the Republic to seek a religious opinion, a procedure stipulated by Egyptian law before issuing death sentences. The Mufti's opinion is advisory and not binding on the court.
The verdict is not final. It was issued by a court of first instance and remains subject to appeal before the Court of Cassation. Death sentences are not carried out until all avenues of appeal have been exhausted and final approval has been granted.
Egypt applies the death penalty for several crimes, including premeditated murder, terrorism, and drug trafficking, and the Anti-Narcotics Law provides for penalties ranging from life imprisonment to death.
If you are following the case or are concerned with the appeal procedures, the next step is to file an appeal before the Court of Cassation within the prescribed legal deadlines, which will be handled by the defense lawyers.