Sharqia doctor jailed for year over insulting prosecution

CAIRO – 9 May 2018: The 10th of Ramadan Misdemeanor Court convicted a doctor with insulting the prosecution on Wednesday, jailing him for one year, ousting him from his current position and fining him LE 500 ($28) as bail.

Dr. Mohamed Hassan’s “Sharqia-doctor” case started March 20, when he refrained from consenting to the 10th of Ramadan general prosecution’s request for his presence to finish some legal procedures, refusing to leave the hospital until another doctor arrived and took his place as an admitting-emergency physician.

According to media outlets, a quarrel took place between the doctor and the 10th of Ramadan prosecutor; accordingly, he was charged with assault. During the initial investigation, Hassan was jailed for four days and bailed for LE 10,000 ($563).

The first session of Hassan’s trial was held on April 18. The case was twice adjourned by judges; the first until May 2 and then until May 9.

Egypt’s Medical Syndicate showed great support for the doctor and defended him. In a statement issued on April 21, the syndicate stated that they will start organizing several sit-ins and protests backing Hassan’s position. They added that they will issue official complainants to the ministers of health and interior.

The syndicate also called for another urgent general assembly meeting on May 11 to take firm decisions regarding Hassan’s case.

“Our support for Hassan is completely professionally motivated. When Hassan was summoned by the prosecution late at night, he was the only working doctor in the whole hospital; accordingly, he couldn’t leave his place until another doctor arrived; that is what any other doctor would do if he was in his place,” Mona Mena, assistant secretary general of the Medical Syndicate, said in a video posted on the syndicate’s official Facebook page on Tuesday, May 8, calling on doctors to attend the urgent general assembly meeting on May 11.

She affirmed that the syndicate completely trusts the Egyptian judiciary and its rulings; however, “a misunderstanding might have happened; Hassan didn’t do anything wrong,” she added.

The judicial ruling issued on Wednesday, May 9 by the 10th of Ramadan Misdemeanor Court is considered to be suspended as long as he was ruled to pay the LE 500 bail. As soon as Hassan pays the money, he will leave the court and continue practicing his job as usual. A new court will be looking at Hassan’s case from the beginning.