Egypt’s General Prosecution ordered, on Saturday, the detention of four lower ranking police officers on possible charges of police brutality. Investigations have revealed that they assaulted a young man, identified as Islam Al-Ostroly, last week during his detention.
Al-Ostroly was pronounced dead by police on 6 September, after he was arrested and taken to the Munib Police Station alive on 4 September, the General Prosecution said. His death caused Munib residents to stage angry protests in front of the police station, leading to the arrests of dozens.
At the time, the Ministry of Interior denied that the officers had assaulted the young man, adding that he was arrested during a brawl between two families. He was later detained at the police station, where the ministry said that he had suffered a heart attack.
On Saturday, the prosecution reviewed CCTV footage which showed Al-Ostroly entering the police station alive. His body was later seen being escorted to a public hospital.
Al-Ostroly’s family have accused the police of beating and torturing their relative to death inside the police station after he was arrested during a verbal argument with police personnel. Despite that, the Ministry of Interior said police officers questioned the victim’s brother who did not accuse anyone of his brother’s death.
According to the General Prosecution, which quoted the forensic medicine department, Al-Ostroly’s body was covered in bruises and other evidence of beatings, which led the prosecution ordering an autopsy.
