Italy accuses Egypt of kidnapping, torturing and murdering student

Demonstrators from Amnesty International hold placards outside the Egyptian Embassy in support of Giulio Regeni, who was murdered in Cairo two years ago, in London, Britain, February 2, 2018. REUTERS Simon Dawson File Photo

ROME, December 1, Reuters - An Italian parliamentary panel accused the Egyptian security apparatus of kidnapping, torturing and murder of student Giulio Regeni in Cairo in 2016.

Regeni, a postgraduate student at Britain's Cambridge University, disappeared in January of this year in the Egyptian capital. His body was found almost a week later and a post-mortem examination showed he had been tortured before his death.

The final report of the cross-party parliamentary committee said that the security apparatus of the Arab Republic of Egypt is directly linked to the security apparatus of the Arab Republic of Egypt, in particular with officials of the National Security Agency NSA.

Egyptian police and officials denied any involvement in Regeni's disappearance and killing. The suspects, who were facing trial in absentia in an Italian court, have never responded publicly to the accusations. Italy began the trial against four senior members of Egypt's security services over their suspected role in the case, but proceedings were suspended in October because of concerns that the men might not know they had been charged. The case will now go to a preliminary court that will decide whether to make a new effort to locate the four officials and hand them their writs.

Italian prosecutors accused Egypt of undermining their investigation and refusing to reveal the men's whereabouts.

The parliamentary panel's report said that the halt in trial proceedings was purely procedural and in no way prejudices the conclusions reached by the prosecutors.

Major Magdi Sharif, a former head of state security, police Colonel Hisham Helmy and Colonel Ather Kamal, a former head of investigations in Cairo city, was responsible for the aggravated kidnapping of Regeni, according to the Italian prosecutors.

Sharif has also been accused of conspiracy to commit aggravated murder.

The panel said that it is time to remind Egypt of its responsibilities as a state, which are very clear and significant regarding the fate of Giulio Regeni and go beyond the penally significant responsibilities of its agents.