Egypt's Aswan Criminal Court sentences 8 to death for killing police officer

CAIRO – 19 January 2021: Aswan Criminal Court sentenced eight defendants to death for killing a police officer in a fire exchange in 2018 during an arrest attempt.

Captain Abdelrahman al-Sirafy was among a force whose mission was arresting a number of criminals in Fatira village in the surroundings of Kom Ombo town.

Four defendants were sentenced in absentia, while a ninth was handed a 15-year prison sentence for being a "minor."

In a different context, a criminal court in Sharqia governorate sentenced six people to death over killing policemen and handed seven others detention sentences in a 2016 case.

The convicts in the cause are accused of forming and leading a terrorist cell and killing and attempting to kill policemen.

They are also accused of carrying out other terrorist operations to help the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood achieve their goals in the country and attempting to overthrow the regime.