A suspect in the killing of a French citizen, who died in detention in a Cairo prison, has reportedly admitted that he, along with five other suspects, beat the deceased because he was not Egyptian, revealed Kasr El-Nil prosecution's preliminary investigation on Wednesday.
Five other suspects denied attacking the victim.
A security source told Reuters on Tuesday that there was a fight between the Frenchman and "six other detainees when he wanted to turn the light on while they wanted it off to go to sleep. They attacked him and he had a brain hemorrhage and died."
A preliminary autopsy revealed the Frenchman died from internal bleeding and a skull fracture. The prosecution has asked forensics to speed-up their expected report on the origin of death.
Egyptian prosecution said the deceased was arrested in the upscale neighbourhood of Zamalek because he had transgressed the curfew and was under the influence of alcohol.
However, Raphael Kempf, the lawyer for the victim’s family, told Ahram Online, "there are some factors which seem to suggest [the Frenchman] was arrested during the day and not after curfew."
The French Ministry for Foreign Affairs said Tuesday it was seeking details concerning the death, according to Associated Press.
Egypt has been under a strict curfew since hundreds died following the violent dispersal of two pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo by security forces on 14 August, amid mass protests against the former president's rule. The curfew was put in place in 14 governorates, including the capital.
There are also conflicting reports on when the Frenchman died. Security sources told Reuters he had been arrested at the weekend and died on Sunday, while French Foreign Ministry Deputy-Spokesman Vincent Floreani said he was killed on Friday in police custody.
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