Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa sentenced to death in drug case
A Cairo court sentenced Khalifa and 11 others to death over alleged synthetic-drug offences, organised crime and possession of unlicensed firearms.
An Egyptian court has sentenced television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death by hanging in a case involving alleged synthetic-drug manufacturing and trafficking, organised crime, and unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
State-linked Al-Ahram reported that the Cairo court accused the defendants of forming an organised criminal gang to obtain materials for manufacturing narcotics for trafficking. State-run Akhbar Al-Youm said the materials were imported from abroad.
The verdict followed consultation with Egypt’s Grand Mufti, a procedure required in capital cases. Reports said authorities seized more than 750 kilograms of narcotics and raw materials, along with two apartments allegedly used as laboratories, firearms and ammunition.
Khalifa, 39, is best known for presenting “Mission Impossible”, a programme focused on security and crime. She also owns a plastic surgery clinic and an events production company, according to the reports.
The defendants also received five-year prison sentences in a separate case involving the kidnapping and assault of a young man. The available reports do not state whether the defendants can appeal or whether the death sentences will be carried out. Egypt permits capital punishment for drug trafficking.
