The Italian foreign ministry has said
that a court of first instance in Cairo on August 19 held a
hearing on the case of Giacomo Passeri, an Italian citizen
arrested about a year ago in Egypt for drug possession, which
was attended by a consular office chief from the Italian
embassy, accompanied by an interpreter, who assisted as an
observer.
On the same day, Passeri's defence lawyer informed the embassy
that Passeri had been "sentenced to 25 years in prison", the
Farnesina said late on Wednesday.
Passeri's attorney has already informed the embassy that he
intends to file an appeal.
The embassy is continuing to follow the case with the utmost
attention, in coordination with the interior ministry, said the
note.
Earlier on Wednesday, Passeri's family claimed he had been
sentenced to life imprisonment.
In recent months his family had raised the alarm about his
condition in jail.
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