Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa sentenced to death
World News
Quick Read
During court proceedings, Khalifa reportedly maintained that she had never handled drugs and said she only saw the substances when she was photographed with them at an anti-narcotics authority facility.
By Tolulope Oke
Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 others have been sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted in a major drug trafficking case.
The verdict was delivered by an Egyptian court after prosecutors accused the defendants of belonging to a criminal network involved in importing raw materials used in the production of illegal drugs for distribution.
Khalifa, 39, who is known for hosting the crime-focused television programme Mission Impossible, has denied the allegations against her. Her lawyer has confirmed that an appeal will be filed against the death sentence.
According to state-owned Al-Ahram, authorities seized more than 750kg of narcotics alongside materials allegedly intended for drug manufacturing during investigations into the case.
The court also heard evidence from 20 witnesses, as well as digital materials including conversations and video recordings presented by prosecutors.
Nine other defendants in the case were sentenced to life imprisonment, while seven people were acquitted.
The death sentences were initially announced last month but were only formally confirmed after the court received the required religious opinion from Egypt’s Grand Mufti, a procedural step required in Egyptian death penalty cases.
During court proceedings, Khalifa reportedly maintained that she had never handled drugs and said she only saw the substances when she was photographed with them at an anti-narcotics authority facility.
The presenter’s lawyer is expected to challenge the ruling through the appeal process.