Five Egyptian journalists have been charged with breaching a gag order in the trial of a tycoon accused of ordering the murder of a Lebanese singer, state news agency MENA reported on Tuesday.
The journalists will face trial on Dec. 4 for “violating a publication ban in the case of Lebanese singer Suzanne Tamim,” the agency reported.
The journalists include Abbas Al-Tarabili, editor of the opposition newspaper Al-Wafd, and Magdy Al-Jalaa, editor of the independent daily Al-Masri Al-Yom.
Meanwhile, two lawyers have filed a complaint against three state-owned newspapers, also for breaching the reporting ban, the Daily News reported.
The lawyers complained to the public prosecutor’s office that Al-Ahram, Al-Gomhuria and Al-Akhbar all breached the ban in what they described as a “grave transgression,” the Egyptian newpaper said.
Under Egyptian law, private individuals may bring cases against others, often with political motives.
Hisham Talaat Mustafa, a stalwart of Egypt’s ruling National Democratic Party, allegedly paid retired policeman Mohsen Al-Sukkari, who is also on trial, $2 million to kill Tamim, 30.
The singer was found dead in her Dubai apartment on July 28, with her throat cut.
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