Egyptian court acquits 3yr old baby of fighting authorities

[DJKeefy]

Ziad Hassan Qenawy, a 3-year-old who was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison for charges of theft and fighting authorities, was acquitted yesterday.

n Cairo, a lawyer prepares for a defense session standing in the middle of an Egyptian courtroom, holding a 3-year-old toddler on his shoulder, that he refers to as 'his client'.

Little Ziad Hassan Qenawy was charged by prosecutors of the following: illegal mining, and fighting authorities, and was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison. "He remained silent on his lawyers shoulders, with his eyes wandering around the courtroom looking for his father, who was watching his son's court session in disbelief," Al Masry Al Youm reports.

The case goes back to last year, when the baby's father Hassan Qenawy was reported by police forces for stealing from the mine – which he guards in the suburbs of Cairo – and driving a truck recklessly, and endangering the lives of police officers. When the truck plates were tracked, the car license was not under Qenawy Sr.'s name – it was under Qenawy Jr.'s name: Ziad.

What followed were charges that were directed at the car owner, and the case took its procedures until Ziad and his father were stopped at the airport, before leaving for Saudi Arabia. It was then when the father realised that his 3-year-old son cannot leave the country because he was summoned to court.

The lawyer approached the judge, denying all accusations, and asserting that Ziad's age puts him out of any law enforcement capacity that can possibly hold him accountable for the actions presented in the case. The Egyptian Law no. 106 of 2008 article 94, states "No children below the age of 12 are to be held accountable for any criminal charge."

After the judge finished the hearing and announced the verdict, it is no surprise that the toddler was found not guilt on account of all charges directed at him – his father burst in joy after hearing the verdict, crying out "Thank god this nightmare is over."


Source: http://www.cairoscene.com/BusinessAndPo ... Authoritie

[DJKeefy]

(Sounds right for Egypt - The twilight zone)

[carrie]

Bet it wasn't a pretty sight the Father bursting in open court
All I can say is that the authorities must have thought he was a very precocious 3 year old.

[DJKeefy]

WOW, this is something I did not know, probably why so much crime is taking place nowadays, get someone under 12 to do it

The Egyptian Law no. 106 of 2008 article 94, states "No children below the age of 12 are to be held accountable for any criminal charge."

When I first started living in Luxor, many times i saw the police marching young kids in handcuffs around the streets then to the police station .

[carrie]

Me too Keefy, wonder what happened to them?

[newcastle]

A child between the ages of 7 and 12 is dealt with by a different court.

Article 94(27
Criminal responsibility shall not apply to the child who has not reached the age of twelve (12)
years at the time of committing the crime.
Yet, if the child is at or above seven (7) years and below twelve (12) calendar years, and has
committed a felony or a misdemeanor, only the Child Court being the competent court, may
rule in accordance with any of the measures set forth in Article 101 Items 1, 2, 7, and 8 of
this Law.
Appeals against rulings placing a child under institutional care are permissible in accordance
with Items 7 and 8 before the Appellate Court concerned with child cases, and in accordance
with Article 132 of this Law

Human Rights Watch have made repeated representations to Egypt concerning mistreatment of young children....often pulled off the streets as vagrants or delinquents.

"Egyptian police routinely arrest and detain children they consider "vulnerable to delinquency" or "vulnerable to danger." These children have not committed any criminal offense, and in many cases the very basis for their arrest-that they are begging, homeless, truants, or mentally ill-shows that they are in need of protection and assistance rather than punishment. In place of care they are subjected to police beatings and sexual abuse and violence; detained in unsanitary and dangerous conditions for days or weeks, often with adult criminal detainees who abuse them; and denied adequate food, water, bedding, and medical care."

https://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/egypt0 ... ds0203.htm

[Who2]

Delinquent little sod, age should be immaterial when a crime has been committed...
Mr Angry of Royal Tunbridge Wells..

[Dusak]

Delinquent little sod, age should be immaterial when a crime has been committed...
Mr Angry of Royal Tunbridge Wells..

Pot calling kettle

From what I've read and seen concerning the orphanages over here, they probably have a better life on the streets.