Egypt Prime Minister Hesham Qandil sentenced to jail term in absentia

Cairo: An Egyptian court on Wednesday sentenced Prime Minister Hesham Qandil to a jail term of one year in absentia for failing to implement a 2011 ruling, sources said, adding the verdict was merely symbolic.

The Cairo misdemeanours court sentenced Qandil for failing to implement a ruling by an administrative court ordering the nationalisation of a textile factory, the judicial sources said.

Qandil was also fined 2,000 Egyptian pounds (about Dh1,063) and was ordered to be removed from his post.

According to judicial sources, sentences in absentia against serving prime ministers and officials are fairly common and not implemented. The officials are only made to pay the fine.