A court in Rome has sentenced three Egyptian security officials to 10 years in prison over the aggravated kidnapping of Italian researcher Giulio Regeni, who disappeared in Cairo in 2016 and was later found dead with extensive signs of torture. A fourth Egyptian official was acquitted, while a separate murder-related charge against one of the convicted defendants was dismissed.
Three Egyptian Officials Receive 10-Year Sentences
The Rome court found Magdi Ibrahim Abdelal Sharif, Ather Kamal and Hisham Helmy guilty of aggravated kidnapping. Each was handed a 10-year prison sentence following proceedings conducted in their absence.
The fourth defendant, Tarek Sabir, a former senior state security official, was acquitted of the kidnapping charge. The court also rejected the allegation of conspiracy to commit aggravated murder against Sharif.
Italian authorities have been unable to establish the current whereabouts of the defendants, who remain in Egypt. Because of the absence of extradition cooperation, it is considered unlikely that the convicted officials will immediately serve their sentences in Italy.
Giulio Regeni Disappeared in Cairo in 2016
Regeni, a 28-year-old doctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge, disappeared in Cairo on January 25, 2016. At the time, he was studying independent trade unions and their activities among street vendors in Egypt.
His body was discovered days later on the outskirts of Cairo. Italian investigators said the post-mortem examination found evidence of extensive torture.
The case quickly became a major point of tension between Italy and Egypt. Italian prosecutors argued that Egyptian security officials were responsible for Regeni’s abduction and abuse. Egyptian authorities rejected state involvement and maintained that a criminal gang was responsible for his death.
Trial Faced Years of Legal and Diplomatic Disputes
The investigation and subsequent trial were complicated by limited cooperation between Italian and Egyptian authorities. Italian prosecutors repeatedly sought information about the defendants, including their addresses, but were unable to obtain the assistance needed to bring them before the Italian court.
The proceedings were ultimately allowed to continue in absentia under Italian law. Italy’s highest court previously ruled that Egypt’s lack of cooperation should not prevent the judicial process from moving forward.
The verdict represents a significant development in the decade-long legal effort surrounding Regeni’s death. The Rome court also ordered the three convicted officials to pay damages to Regeni’s family and the Italian state.
