Egypt sentences 5 convicts to 25 yrs in jail for spying

CAIRO –8 July 2019:A Cairo criminal court sentenced five convicts to 25 years in prison in absentia on Sunday over charges ofspying for Iran.

Another convict, who was present at the cage, was sentenced to 15 years in jail; meanwhile, all of the convicts were fined LE 500,000 (US$ 30,000)each.

A total of 32 sessions of the trial were held secretly since June 2018; however, media reporters were allowed to attend the final trial.

Dozens of Egyptians, who allegedly belong to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group, are being tried over charges of spying for foreign countries and organizations like Turkey, Qatar, Hamas, and Hezbollah. One of the defendants was late President Mohamed Morsi.