Egypt:A Cairo court sentenced two policemen to three years in prison on Monday for torturing a man, in a case that sparked public outrage in Egypt and drew criticism from international rights groups.
Capt Islam Nabih and Cpl Reda Fathi were arrested in December after Egyptian internet blogs widely circulated a covertly recorded video of an incident almost two years ago in which a man was sodomised with a stick.
Minibus driver Imad al-Kabir later accused Nabih and Fathi of torturing him in a Cairo police station after he was detained for intervening to stop an argument between the police officers and his brother. "God is most great. Long live justice," an overjoyed Mr Kabir screamed after the judge read the verdict. "I regained my right . . . I can walk with my head high again," he told reporters.
Court officials said both men will appeal.
International and local rights group say torture is widespread and systematic in Egyptian jails and police stations.
Past victims have reported receiving electric shocks and beatings. Egypt says it opposes torture and prosecutes policemen against whom it has evidence that they tortured.
Mr Kabir's lawyer said the officers threatened his client after he filed a complaint with authorities. Mr Kabir was later sentenced to three months in jail for resisting and obstructing the authorities and assaulting a policeman in the same incident.
A number of high-profile torture cases have come to light recently, including allegations of police torturing a 13-year-old, who later died of his injuries.