Region | Egypt
Medical tests for Hezbollah suspects ahead of trial
Egyptian authorities have agreed to allow scores of Arab nationals, detained over alleged links with the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, to be medically examined upon requests from defence lawyers, who claim their confessions were made under coercion, according to security sources.
- By Ramadan Al Sherbini, Correspondent
- Published: 18:17 April 20, 2009
Cairo: Egyptian authorities have agreed to allow scores of Arab nationals, detained over alleged links with the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, to be medically examined upon requests from defence lawyers, who claim their confessions were made under coercion, according to security sources.
Egypt's Public Attorney for State Security Prosecution Hesham Badawi has ordered that all suspects undergo medical check-ups to find out if they were tortured during questioning, said the sources.
Earlier this month, Egypt said it had smashed a ring with alleged links to Hezbollah, which planned to carry out terror attacks in Sinai. The alleged mastermind of the 49-member cell is Mohammad Youssef Mansour, a Lebanese national, also known as Sami Shebab. Other suspects are Egyptians, Palestinians and Sudanese.
The case, which has fuelled tensions between Egypt and Hezbollah, is expected to be referred to court this week. The case will be heard by a high state court, not a military tribunal, Gulf News has learnt.
"The defendants are unlikely to be put on trial at a military court so as to deny Hezbollah the chance of gaining sympathy among Egyptians and human rights groups," said a legal source, who asked not to be named. "In addition, a public trial will leave no doubt about the substantial evidence collected against the defendants and present a coherent case."
The suspects, some of them are still at large, face charges of planning terror attacks, espionage and seeking to overthrow regime. They carry death penalty.
"The defendants' confessions are null and void because they were made under coercion as they have been detained in unknown locations for more than four months," Montasser Al Zayat, the chief defence lawyer. He added that the prime defendant, Sami Shehab, has not been allowed to hire a lawyer since the beginning of his interrogation.
"Investigations were conducted at night and sometimes for more than 10 hours non-stop without paying attention to the defendants' mental and psychological condition."
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