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Cairo: An outspoken Egyptian tabloid news editor has been sentenced to six months in prison for reporting on the President's health problems, causing panic among foreign investors and threatening Egypt's economy in a highly publicised case, a court official said yesterday.
Ebrahim Eisa, editor of the daily Al Dustour, will post the 200 Egyptian pounds bail (about Dh135) to avoid serving his sentence while he appeals, added the official speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media.
"The state has been put at risk," Judge Sherif Mustafa said while reading out the court verdict details. "He reported false news about the President's health which he knew were fabricated." The judge added that articles threatened the economy.
"Investors withdrew their investment from the country and the stock market collapsed, costing the economy some $350 million [about Dh1,285 million]," he said.
Eisa was not reachable by phone and he did not appear at the trial.
Eisa published stories in August speculating on the failing state of President Hosni Mubarak's health.
Makram Mohammad Ahmad, head of Egypt's Press Syndicate known for his ties to the government, noted that the whole process was still in its early stages.
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