Egyptian Presenter Sarah Khalifa Sentenced to Death in Drug Case
An Egyptian court has sentenced television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other individuals to death on drug trafficking charges.
Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 individuals have been sentenced to death in connection with drug trafficking and criminal gang activities. It was reported that a religious opinion was sought from the Grand Mufti of Egypt for the verdict to be finalized.
Drug and Weapons Smuggling Charges
According to information reported by Egypt's state-run al-Ahram newspaper, 12 people, including television presenter Sarah Khalifa, were convicted of drug trafficking charges.
It was stated that the defendants were part of a criminal gang that imported raw materials used in drug manufacturing into the country with the intent to sell them, and illegal firearms and ammunition were also seized at the scene.
Trial Process and Death Sentence
A total of 12 defendants, including 39-year-old presenter Sarah Khalifa, who denied the accusations, were sentenced to death. It was noted that the verdict was first announced last month.
The verdict was officially confirmed a month later following the receipt of a religious opinion from Egypt's Grand Mufti, which is a legal requirement in death penalty cases. The defendants have the right to appeal the decision.
Evidence and Witness Testimonies
It was stated in court that during the trial authorities seized more than 750 kilograms of narcotics and raw materials used in their production.
According to al-Ahram's report, 20 witnesses testified before the prosecution, and electronic evidence including conversations and video clips was also included in the case file.