Egyptian court sentences well-known TV presenter, 11 others to death in drug case

Cairo: A court in Egypt has sentenced a prominent TV presenter and 11 other individuals to death after being convicted of manufacturing and trafficking narcotics in a major drug case.

The presenter, Sarah Khalifa, 39, is best known for her program "Mission Impossible", which dealt with issues concerning security and crime.

Al-Ahram newspaper said a Cairo court sentenced "Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death by hanging on charges of forming an organised criminal gang specialising in procuring materials used in manufacturing narcotics, with the intent to traffic them, and possessing and carrying unlicensed firearms and ammunition".

The verdict came after the court consulted the Grand Mufti of Egypt for his opinion, a procedure required by Egyptian law in capital cases. The verdict is subject to appeal.

According to the Egyptian Akhbar Al-Youm newspaper, the defendants were charged with "manufacturing synthetic drugs with the intent to traffic them, by importing the materials used in manufacturing from abroad".

Al-Ahram reported that authorities seized more than 750 kilograms of narcotics and raw materials, and found two apartments used as laboratories as well as unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

The court also sentenced Khalifa and others to five years in prison over a separate case involving the kidnapping and assault of a young man.