Egypt: Policeman sentenced to death for protestors' killing

Cairo, May 23: An Egyptian criminal court on Sunday, May 22, sentenced a police officer to death for killing protestors during the mass uprising that ousted president Hosni Mubarak, the first such ruling since the pro-democracy movement erupted in the country.

Mohamed Ibrahim Abdel Monem was sentenced to death in absentia by Northern Cairo's criminal court after being found guilty of killing 18 protesters and wounding three others on January 28, Egyptian newspaper Al Ahram said on Sunday, May 22.

The court also ordered a swift arrest of El-Seni, whose whereabouts are still unknown.

The sentence raised the stakes for other security officials charged with having a role in killing protesters, including the former Interior Minister Habib al-Adli, who has already been sentenced to 12 years in prison for graft.

Mubarak stepped down on Feb 11 and transferred power to the military council, after 18 days of a popular uprising.

He has been held in custody in a hospital since April, 2011, over allegations of killings of protesters and corruption.

At least 846 people were killed during the protest, reports said.

PTI