Egypt’s First Circuit of the Criminal Court in Damanhour sentenced a 78-year-old school administrator to life imprisonment, equivalent to 25 years under Egyptian law, for the sexual abuse of six-year-old Yassin, a student enrolled at a private school in the Beheira Governorate.
In today’s initial hearing, the court approved a request by the child’s legal team to amend the charges, reclassifying the crime from sexual assault without force to sexual assault committed under threat and coercion. This modification significantly increased the potential penalty, as the crime now carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, compared to the previous maximum penalty of sven years under the original charge. As a result, the session was held behind closed doors and was limited to the presence of the victim, his family, the defendant, legal representatives from both sides, and eyewitnesses. Media access to the proceedings was strictly prohibited.
The defendant was convicted under Articles 268 and 269 of the Egyptian Penal Code, which define the crime of indecent assault as a felony. This offense requires the presence of two essential elements: the material element (the physical act) and the criminal intent (mens rea), which includes both knowledge and willful intent.
The incident dates back to January of last year when the child’s mother noticed he was avoiding using the bathroom. In February, the Public Prosecution received a forensic medical report that found no visible injuries but noted anal dilation consistent with a possible sexual assault attempt. In response, prosecutors initiated an investigation and summoned both the school principal and the accused, a financial accountant appointed by the Beheira Diocese to oversee the school’s accounts. The principal stated that an internal inquiry had concluded the child showed signs of mental instability.
Subsequently, the child’s mother appealed the decision to close the case, citing the testimony of three individuals she claimed acted as intermediaries for the accused. She alleged that they attempted to pressure her and her husband into accepting a private settlement and withdrawing legal action, and that money and free education for the victim and his brother was offered in return. Following the Court’s acceptance of her appeal, the prosecutor reopened the investigation on January 14.
Children’s sexual assault is prohibited under Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which mandates that states take all appropriate legislative, administrative, and judicial measures to protect children from all forms of violence, including sexual abuse and exploitation. Article 34 of the CRC further emphasizes the state’s responsibility to protect children from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse.
