[MSN] A Cairo court yesterday commuted the sentences of eight people charged with illegal trafficking of antiquities to shorter terms in prison and cleared five others of the same charges.

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Sentences slashed in antiquities case

Published: Thursday, 8 June, 2006, 11:54 AM Doha Time 
 
CAIRO: A Cairo court yesterday commuted the sentences of eight people
charged with illegal trafficking of antiquities to shorter terms in prison
and cleared five others of the same charges.

Tareq al-Sweisy saw his 35-year prison term commuted to 13 years and a fine
of 60,000 Egyptian pounds ($10,478).

Seven of al-Sweisy's associates, who were originally sentenced to up to 15
years in jail, had their terms reduced to between three and 10 years
imprisonment. Five others were cleared of the charges.

The court ruling, issued amid a strong security presence in and around the
courtroom, was welcomed by the defendants' families.

Al-Sweisy and his collaborators faced charges of attempting to smuggle 300
rare Egyptian antiquities into Switzerland. The men were apprehended by
Swiss authorities and reported to Egyptian police.

The group had acquired the artefacts by stealing them from Egyptian museums
or digging them up without a permit.

The defendants were also charged with laundering 40mn Egyptian pounds.
 
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