CAIRO, May 22 (Reuters) An Egyptian court sentenced eight government employees, including the head of a cultural body, to 10 years in jail each today for negligence over a theatre fire last year that killed 46 people, a judicial official said.
The official said that Mostafa Elwy, head of the authority for cultural centres who was among those convicted, was also a member of the ruling National Democratic Party's policies committee. The rest also worked for the Culture Ministry.
The official said the men were responsible for the running of the overall administration of state-run theatres throughout the country.
Culture Minister Farouk Hosni offered his resignation following the September 5 fire in the provincial town of Beni Suef, 100 km south of Cairo, but was asked to stay by the prime minister on the president's instructions.
Artists and intellectuals had demanded Hosni's resignation following the fire, which started in the theatre owned by the Culture Ministry when a candle being used as a prop fell over.
REUTERS PG RS1844
The official said that Mostafa Elwy, head of the authority for cultural centres who was among those convicted, was also a member of the ruling National Democratic Party's policies committee. The rest also worked for the Culture Ministry.
The official said the men were responsible for the running of the overall administration of state-run theatres throughout the country.
Culture Minister Farouk Hosni offered his resignation following the September 5 fire in the provincial town of Beni Suef, 100 km south of Cairo, but was asked to stay by the prime minister on the president's instructions.
Artists and intellectuals had demanded Hosni's resignation following the fire, which started in the theatre owned by the Culture Ministry when a candle being used as a prop fell over.
REUTERS PG RS1844
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