The Dokki and Agouza Misdemeanor Appeals Court abolished on Tuesday the five-year prison sentence handed to 47 protesters that had been charged with illegally demonstrating in anti-government protests on 25 April.
The court, however, ordered a total fine of EGP 4.7m, which amounts to EGP 100,000 per detainee, against the 47 protesters. Defense lawyers said they are mulling a request to pay the fine via instalments so that the detainees can be released, or refrain from paying the fine, in which case the detainees would serve a minimum 3-month sentence.
A first degree verdict on 15 May sentenced 101 defendants to five years in prison, while 79 of them were fined EGP 100,000.
Following the Tuesday ruling, the remaining 54 defendants, who were previously released pending trial, are expected to also appeal against their sentences.
The nationwide 25 April protests that objected to the maritime demarcation agreement that would see the transfer of sovereignty of Sanafir and Tiran islands to Saudi Arabia were met with a strong security response and were followed by the arbitrary arrest of bystanders without any investigation, according to numerous testimonies.
