CAIRO: The Southern Cairo Prosecution Court detained on Thursday two police officers, accused of sexually abusing a microbus driver, pending a criminal court session to determine their fate this week. The two officers, Islam Nabeh, assistant investigator, and Reda Fathy, a non-commissioned officer, have been accused of torturing Imad Al-Kabir, an Egyptian microbus driver, in Bulak Al Dakrour police station in January 2006. The officers videotaped the sexual abuse and circulated the video among local bus drivers. Nasser Amin, Al-Kabir's lawyer, earlier told The Daily Star Egypt the prosecution decided on a four-day detention of the two officers after intense investigation. However, the court decided to directly move their case to the criminal court on Dec. 28, instead of renewing their four-day-detention period. "The officers are now prisoners in the main security forces [compound] in Giza. I expect the court will decide an imprisonment penalty for a period of three to 10 years, according to the penalties concerned with cases of sexual abuse listed in the Egyptian Penal Code, Amin said. Meanwhile, Al-Kabir believes the Egyptian judicial system and the prosecution's decision have satisfied his need for justice and retribution. I feel really happy for that decision and I feel much honoured now. All my family and neighbours felt I it got my rights again when the two officers were detained, he told The Daily Star Egypt. Al-Kabir added that punishing such officers with a prison penalty will always be a good example for other police officers, who he alleged use sexual abuse in torturing prisoners in prisons and police stations. "Let them be a good example for their fellow police officers. Let all other officers think for a moment before they abuse anyone. I was sure that God would never leave unfairness spread out in Egypt. Thanks God, said Al-Kabir. But Ayman Helmy, an official at the interior ministry, declined to comment on the subject, saying that investigations are continuing and the ministry will immediately implement whatever decision the prosecution reaches. He added that it is unlikely the prosecution will prove the incident since Al-Kabir lacks enough evidence. "Al-Kabir is merely making allegations with no solid proof. But if the prosecution decides to jail the officers, free them or even prove the case, we will apply that immediately, he added.
