An Egyptian court sentenced television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other people to death by hanging after convicting them of drug trafficking charges. The defendants were part of a criminal gang that imported ingredients used to make drugs with intent to sell, according to state-owned newspaper al-Ahram. Authorities seized more than 750 kilograms of narcotics and raw materials during the investigation. The defendants also faced charges of possessing illegal firearms and munitions.
Khalifa, 39, is known for hosting the crime program Mission Impossible and has denied the charges. The verdict was announced last month and confirmed after the court obtained a required religious opinion from Egypt's grand mufti. Khalifa told the court last September that she had never seen drugs until she was photographed with them inside anti-narcotics authority offices. The verdict can be appealed.