A criminal court in the coastal city of Alexandria will on February 26 hear defence lawyers for two policemen suspected of brutally beating and illegally arresting a 28-year-old man last year.
"After the court heard 18 witnesses in the case of harassing Khaled Saeed, the lawyers for the two defendants will be given a chance on February 26," the court said. It added that a bhang package mentioned in the case should be added to the file of the case. Saeed, ablogger, died on a street in Alexandria in last June. The case caused outrage at home and abroad as rights groups accused police of beating him to death. Witnesses say Saeed died after he was dragged out of a cafe and beaten up by the policemen. The Government says he swallowed a packet of drugs and choked. An Amnesty International statement issued recently expressed concern that witnesses in the trial could be harassed and urged the Egyptian Government to ensure their safety. The US, EU and other human rights groups have all called for a transparent trial.
