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An Egyptian State Security court on Wednesday sentenced a Jordanian national to ten years in prison for spying for Israel, a judicial source has said.
The same court, he added, had sentenced an Israeli intelligence officer in absentia to life imprisonment (25 years).
The source noted that the sentences issued against the two men could still be appealed.
The court had accused the pair of helping Israel eavesdrop on international phone calls originating in Egypt and providing the self-proclaimed Jewish state with information about Egypt's armed forces.
On Wednesday, the Jordanian national, Bashar Abu Zeid, a communications engineer, smiled soon after the judge read out the ruling.
His lawyer, Mohamed Elwan, said the verdict was proof of his client's innocence.
"My client would have been sentenced to death if the case was reviewed during wartime," Elwan said.
Abu Zeid was arrested in 2011 following a popular uprising that unseated autocratic ruler Hosni Mubarak.
Egypt's intelligence agency reportedly kept the Jordanian national under surveillance after noting that he was communicating with the Israeli intelligence officer.
Abu Zeid also allegedly attempted to recruit Egyptians to help Israel gain access to international phone calls made in Egypt in return for large sums of money.
He also provided Israeli intelligence with information on security conditions in Egypt during the 2011 uprising and on Egyptian army dispositions, according to investigators.
By Sayed Fathi
englishnews@aa.com.tr
www.aa.com.tr/en - Kahire
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