The daughter of leftist politician Hamdeen Sabbahi was acquitted of fraud by a misdemeanour court in an appeal against an October conviction which had seen her sentenced to six months in jail and a LE200 fine.

Salma Sabbahi is also appealing another conviction for the same case by a different court, in which she was sentenced to three years in jail and a LE30,000 fine. Her lawyer says that being tried in two courts for the same crime is a procedural error.

Sabbahi had been released from custody on bail of LE30,000. She was convicted of involvement in an internet marketing network scheme and accused of defrauding customers of a total of $20,000.

Her father, Nasserist politician Hamdeen Sabbahi, came third in last year's presidential election.

He is the founder of the left-leaning Egyptian Popular Current party.

Salma Sabbahi, who worked as a TV presenter, says the allegations are part of a smear campaign against her father.