Egypt TV presenter among 12 sentenced to death
SCMP · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
An Egyptian court in Cairo sentenced television presenter Sarah Khalifa, 39, and 11 other defendants to death by hanging in a case centred on manufacturing and trafficking narcotics. Khalifa is known for hosting the programme Mission Impossible, which focused on security and crime issues, and one report said she has more than 2.5 million Instagram followers. The court said the defendants formed an organised criminal gang, procured materials used to make drugs, and possessed unlicensed firearms and ammunition. The ruling followed consultation with Egypt’s Grand Mufti, as required in capital cases, and remains subject to appeal
Key Points
- State-linked Al-Ahram said the Cairo court ordered death by hanging for Khalifa and 11 others over organised narcotics manufacturing and trafficking charges.
- Akhbar Al-Youm said the defendants were accused of making synthetic drugs for trafficking after importing production materials from abroad.
- Authorities seized more than 750kg of narcotics and raw materials, and found two flats allegedly used as drug laboratories.
- Investigators also recovered unlicensed firearms and ammunition, which were included among the charges cited by official media.
- In a separate case, Khalifa and other defendants were sentenced to five years in prison over the kidnapping and assault of a young man.
Why It Matters
The case draws attention to Egypt’s continued use of capital punishment in drug trafficking prosecutions, with death sentences still available for several serious offences under Egyptian law. For Hong Kong readers, it is also a reminder that high-profile media figures and online personalities can face severe criminal penalties abroad, even while appeals remain pending.