Police officers accused of torturing lawyer to death referred to court

Wednesday 08-04-2015 12:58 PM
Police officers accused of torturing lawyer to death referred to court

Police stand guard as an army vehicle approaches for more possible protests in the eastern suburb of Matariya, Cairo November 28, 2014. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

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CAIRO, Apr 8 (Aswat Masriya) - Egypt's top prosecutor referred two Homeland Security police officers accused of torturing a lawyer, to criminal court on Wednesday, a statement said.

They are charged with "torturing to death" lawyer Karim Hamdy, while in custody, after sufficient evidence was gathered against them, the statement from Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat's office said. 

According to the prosecution, the lawyer was tortured by two police officers during questioning to make him confess to crimes. This left the lawyer with "multiple serious injuries," leading to his death.  

Prosecutors had ordered the detention of the two police officers on February 26 but they were were released on bail worth 10,000 Egyptian pounds ($ 1,310), last week. 

The lawyer was arrested earlier in February alongside three others and taken to the Matariya Police Station. He died on February 24. 

He was accused of arms possession. 

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