A South Sinai criminal court sentenced on Thursday 50 low-ranking policemen to three years in high security prison for illegally striking and disrupting work, state-run MENA news agency reported.

The court also ordered that the defendants be fired and fined EGP 500 each in addition to EGP 6,000 collectively for damages.

The case dates back to January 2017, when the defendants were arrested after organising a strike inside police departments in South Sinai to protest against an interior ministry decision to reduce their vacation days and increase their work hours.

The defendants have the right to appeal the court verdict.