Egyptian Public Prosecution reveals details on filmmaker Shady Habash death in prison

CAIRO – 5 May 2020: The Egyptian Public Prosecution issued a statement, Tuesday on the latest investigations’ updates regarding the death of imprisoned film maker Shady Habash, who passed away in jail on Friday May 1.

According to the statement, Habash showed symptoms of fatigue, vomiting, intestinal cramps and sight impairment during the two days past his death.

Habash was transferred to the prison clinic up to four times before the deteriorating of his health condition, which led to his death, before being transferred to an external hospital out side of the jail; the statement said.

According to the prison doctors’ testimonials, in the first time Habash received intestinal antiseptic and anti-cramps after saying that he drank small amount of alcohol by mistake. At this time, Habash vital signs were stable.

During the same day at noon, Habash suffered from vomiting, so the doctors gave him antiemetic; however, Habash intestinal cramps developed even more, so he was injected with anti-cramping, as his vital signs were still stable at this stage.

In the evening, Habash received a medical check for the fourth time, but he was developing symptoms of consciousness disturbance, weak pulse and low pressure. The doctor gave him the needed first aid and started preparing him to be hospitalized; however, his condition deteriorated, which led to his death, the statement explained.
During the investigations, Habash prison mates were questioned on his health conditions during the two days prior his death. Three inmates said in their statements that they called for help due to his health deterioration nearly three times, as he went to the clinic and spent around twenty to two hours during each time.

In the fourth time, Habash prison mates called for help to him, he was deeply agonized, unconscious and showing delirium symptoms. Later on, they were informed with his death.

The prosecutor questioned two other prisoners as they said that Habash possessed three bottles of alcohol, each was one was hundred milliliters; two of them were found empty in the trash after his death.

One of the two prisoners affirmed in his statement that Habash never complained of of any chronic diseases before his death.

According to the second inmate’s statement, Habash was seen drinking from a regular bottle of water, but when he tried it later, he founded it tasting different and unusual.

After asking Habash he told him that he mixed his alcohol [which allowed to be used for hands sterilization] with soda water to give the same effect of alcoholic drinks.

Later on, he started developing the vomiting and intestinal cramps symptoms, and that his mates advised him to tell the doctors the truth in order to receive the right medicine, which what happened.

Two similar bottles [each hundred milliliters] of Habash sterilizing alcohol found empty in the trash.

Habash died at a Tora prison's clinic on Friday May 1. Prosecutor General Hamada el Sawy ordered opening an investigation into the incident and dispatching a forensic doctor to perform an autopsy to determine the cause of the prisoner's death, according to the Public Prosecution statement.

The public prosecution said that no signs of wounds were found on Habash body.