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2nd LD: Egypt court gives Morsi life in prison over spying charges

Xinhua, June 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

An Egyptian court on Tuesday sentenced ousted President Mohamed Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood guide Mohamed Badei, along with other seven members of the group, for life in prison over spying charges, state-run Nile TV reported.

In the same case, the court confirmed death sentences against 16 other defendants, including Kairate El-Shater, a Muslim Brotherhood top leader, Mohammed al-Beltagi, Freedom and Justice Party's secretary general, and Ahmed Abdel-Aaty, former presidential Morsi's aid.

Death sentences were also handed to 13 other defendants in absentia. The verdicts can be appealed.

All the defendants were accused of conspiring with foreign militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah against Egypt's national security.

On May 16, the verdicts were referred to the Grand Mufti, the country's highest Islamic official who gives the religious judgment of all preliminary death sentences, for his opinion.

Presiding Judge Shabaan al-Shami said the Mufti's report agrees with the judges' panel opinion.

The judge is expected later on Tuesday to give a ruling in a case related to a 2011 mass jail break, in which Morsi has been sentenced to death.

Morsi, the country first elected president, was ousted in 2013 by the army in response to mass protest against his rule. He has already been sentenced to 20 years in jail in a separate trial on charges of inciting violence.

According to Egyptian laws, life sentence is 25 years in prison. Endit