Prosecutor orders detention of man accused of driving under influence, killing 4

CAIRO – 14 December 2021: Counselor Hamada Al-Sawy, the Public Prosecutor, ordered the detention of the accused, Karim Al-Hawari, for four days pending investigations, over possessing a narcotic substance, and mistakenly causing the death of four people.

Surveillance camera footage was retrieved on the road where a deadly accident took place last week, after Hawari’s car hit at a high speed another car, killing four passengers. The accident raised concerns on road safety measures to reduce fatality on the road, which human error are the main cause according to official reports.

According to official statements, Hawari exceeded legally prescribed speed on the road, was driving under the influence of narcotic.

The Public Prosecution charged him with three main charges, which are:

1- Causing by mistake the death of four as a result of his negligence, carelessness, lack of caution and failure to observe the laws, regulations and systems.

2- Possession of a narcotic substance with intent to use.

3- Exceeding the legally prescribed speed while driving a vehicle.

The report of the chemical laboratory at the Forensic Medicine Authority had proven that the examination of the samples contained anesthetic substance and alcohol.

Relatives of one of the victims expressed the family’s happiness for the decision to imprison the accused, hoping that this would be a first step towards the return of the right of the four students, with a deterrent verdict per Article 238 of the Penal Code that stipulates that “Whoever negligently causes the death of a person, as a result of his negligence, carelessness, lack of caution, or failure to observe laws, decisions, regulations and systems, shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of no less than six months and a fine not exceeding two hundred pounds, or one of these two penalties.”

The penalty shall be imprisonment for a period of no less than one year and not exceeding 5 years and a fine of no less than one hundred and no more than 500 pounds, or one of the two penalties if the offense occurred as a result of the offender’s grave breach of his job, profession or trade, or if he was an intoxicant or drug abuser.