Morsi sentenced to 40 years in jail

Egypt’s former President Mohamed Morsi was sentenced on Saturday to 25 years in jail for espionage and a further 15 years on lesser charges.

The Cairo criminal court issued the sentences in relation to the case of “collaborating with Qatar.”

According to the text of the verdict, which was announced on Sunday and published in the Egyptian press, the court sentenced Morsi on charges of “embezzlement of documents” and “leading the Muslim Brotherhood group”, a banned group.

Saturday’s ruling is subject to appeal.

Ibrahim Helal, former director of news at Al Jazeera‘s Arabic channel, was sentenced to death in absentia during the same case.

Morsi is expected to be in the dock again on Thursday to face his fifth trial.