Rigorous imprisonment for 5 defendants in 2011 riot case

CAIRO, Oct 5 (MENA) - The Giza Criminal Court handed down Saturday jail sentences against five defendants for 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in the case "Cabinet incidents".

The court also ordered the defendants to pay around 17.6 million pounds in compensation for vandalism. One of the defendants was sentenced to five years in prison.

The defendants are accused of weapons possession, committing acts of vandalism by setting public and private property on fire and rioting outside the premises of state facilities.

They are also charged with possessing drugs.

Many people were killed and injured in the 2011 incidents.

In December 2011, security forces dispersed a three-week sit-in at the Cabinet building, which caused clashes in the area surrounding the Cabinet and Shura Council and led to the burning of the Scientific Institute.

Some 269 defendants are implicated in the case.