Italy distances Egypt from verdict over Giulio Regeni as opposition attacks

An Italian court has handed down a 10-year prison sentence to three Egyptian security officials in connection with the 2016 kidnapping and torture of Italian postgraduate researcher Giulio Regeni. The Cairo court ruled in Regeni's absence, acquitting a fourth Egyptian official present. Regeni's body was discovered nearly a week after his disappearance, with extensive evidence of torture.

Maj Magdi Sharif of Egypt's General Intelligence Service, Col Ather Kamal from Cairo police investigations, and Col Hisham Helmy from the police were convicted. Maj Gen Tarek Sabir, a former state security chief, was acquitted and the court dismissed conspiracy to murder charges against Maj Sharif. The ruling marks a significant step in a case that strained Italy-Egypt relations.

Regeni, 28, was researching independent trade unions, a sensitive topic in Egypt. The defendants were absent at the trial and Italy has deemed extradition unlikely. Prosecutors claim Regeni was targeted due to his work, while Egypt maintains it was a criminal gang. The trial faced numerous delays due to Egypt's lack of cooperation, but Rome's Chief Prosecutor expressed satisfaction despite this. Regeni's family hailed the verdict as a victory against impunity.