Egyptian court orders retrial of seven defendants over links with IS

CAIRO, Nov 7 (KUNA) -- The Egyptian Cassation Court on Tuesday cancelled death and jail sentences against seven defendants who were accused of establishing links with the so-called Islamic State group.
The court ordered a retrial for the seven defendants by the criminal court, the official Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported.
The criminal court had sentenced four defendants for death, three in absentia; two defendants for 15 years of hard labor in a prison; six defendants for 10 years of hard labor in a prison; and acquitted one.
The case dates back to 2014, when the late attorney general Hisham Barakat referred to the criminal court the 13 defendants, accusing them of creating a terror cell that carried out hostile acts against police and army personnel and facilities. They were also accused of embracing extremist ideologies and establishing links with the so-called Islamic State group. (end) esm.ibi