Cairo May 16, 2016 For Immediate Release
PRESS RELEASE
NEGAD EL-BORAI CALLED FOR A FIFTH INVESTIGATION SESSION FOR DRAFTING AN ANTI-TORTURE BILL
Judge Abdulshafy Othman, the judge tasked by the Minister of Justice, called Attorney-at –law Negad El Borai for an investigation audience on Tuesday May 17, 2016 at 3 PM as part of an investigation conducted regarding United Group’s role in drafting an anti-torture bill based upon a denunciation submitted by the High Judicial Council against him along with both Judges Assem Abdulgabar and Hesham Raouf. The charges include establishing an unlicensed entity named “United Group – Attorneys-at-law, Legal Advisors”, drafting an anti-torture bill and lobbying the presidency for ratifying it.
On the beginning of year 2015, United Group sent a letter to President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi that included a complete bill destined to combat torture and ill-treatment. “United Group – Attorneys-at-law, Legal Advisors” urged the promulgation of the bill in a workshop it has organized in March 2015, based on which El Borai is accused.
Worth saying that Negad El Borai attended four investigation session beforehand, the last one was on Thursday March 3, 2016 during which he was accused of establishing an unlicensed entity named “United Group – Attorneys-at-law, Legal Advisors” for the intent of inciting resistance to the authorities, implementing human rights activities without a license, receiving funds from the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), deliberately spreading false information with the purpose of harming public order or public interest.