The Cairo Criminal Court has sentenced prominent activist Alaa Abdel Fattah to five sentences in prison in addition to an EGP 100,000 fine. Other defendants received sentences between three years and five years, with all defendants having their forced theft charge dropped. All 25 defendants were initially sentenced in absentia in June to 15 years in prison in addition to an EGP 100,000 fine. The case dates back to a peaceful demonstration in front of the Shura Council dispersed by security forces on 26 November 2011. The demonstration was against the then draft constitution which allowed military trial of civilians. The session, which was also preceded by the Al Jazeera English journalists' trial, was held at the Police Institute at Torah Prison was attended by activists and given intense media coverage. The verdict was met with anger and grief from activists and relatives who attended the session and they chanted against "military rule". The prosecution accused Abdel Fattah of assaulting security officer Emad Tahoun, beating him and stealing his walkie-talkie. Other unclear points include the sudden introduction of new evidence in a January session by the prosecution, which the judge in the case, Hassan Farid, accepted, despite defence objections. Abdel Fattah and other defendants were also accused of illegal protesting, assaulting police force, rioting among other charges. Court sessions were disordered, with police eyewitnesses, including Tahoun himself, failing to answer most questions by the judge and defence lawyers regarding the exact timing and location of the alleged assault.
