Egyptian court sentences TV presenter, 11 others to death — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): An Egyptian criminal court has sentenced TV presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 others to death after finding them guilty in a drug-related case, media reports said on Sunday. The Cairo Criminal Court issued the death sentences after finding the defendants guilty of forming an organised criminal gang involved in procuring materials used to manufacture narcotics for trafficking, Al Jazeera reported, citing the state-linked Al-Ahram outlet. The court also sentenced nine co-defendants to life imprisonment and acquitted seven others in the case, which involved 28 defendants, the report said. Khalifa, 39, is best known for hosting the security and crime programme Mission Impossible, which aired on the private Al-Mehwar TV channel. She also ran a cosmetic surgery clinic and an event-planning company and had a significant social media following, with more than two million followers on Instagram. Khalifa denied the charges and told investigators that she had “never smoked a cigarette in my life,” maintaining her innocence. Prosecutors said the gang imported raw materials from abroad to manufacture synthetic drugs and stored them in residential properties. Authorities alleged that members of the group divided responsibilities among themselves, including procurement, manufacturing and distribution. Investigators also seized unlicensed firearms and ammunition along with the narcotics. The death sentences are not final and the defendants have the right to appeal. The report…