Khaberni - The Court of Cassation in Egypt rejected the appeal, on Sunday, October 26, 2025, filed by the defense of the popular singer Saad El Soghayar against his six-month imprisonment sentence in a case of possession of drugs intended for personal use.
With this decision, the court upheld the ruling issued by the North Cairo Criminal Court of Appeals, making it final, conclusive, and unappealable.
The Incident Details from the Beginning
Saad El Soghayar was arrested on September 10, 2024, during the inspection of his bags at Cairo International Airport, after it was confirmed he possessed drugs, including hashish and tramadol, intended for personal use. The trial began its various judicial phases, where the first-degree criminal court sentenced him to three years in prison on November 25 of the past year.
Later, Saad El Soghayar appealed the sentence, and on February 13 of the past year, the North Cairo Criminal Court of Appeals reduced the punishment to only six months of imprisonment, considering the social and human aspect of the accused, wishing to protect him from homelessness and the loss of his future, emphasizing that the length of the sentence serves as a deterrent for him to reconsider his behavior.
Punishment Implementation and Release
Saad El Soghayar completed his imprisonment on March 11, 2025, and left the prison after completing the legal procedures and the expiration of the punishment period. Despite the release, his defense continued to file the appeal within the legal period, hoping to lessen or overturn the sentence, but the Court of Cassation rejected the appeal and upheld the previously issued sentence.
The Court's Rationale and Penalty Reduction
The North Cairo Court of Appeals explained that the decision came considering the accused's status as a folk artist, who failed to maintain his reputation and his art, and slipped into drug use despite being a role model for the public and artists. The rationale affirmed that the reduction was based on Article 17 of the Penal Code, which allows for a reduction considering the social and human aspects, while maintaining the sentence as a deterrent and corrective measure for the accused’s behavior, to guide him back on the right path.
The court also clarified that the evidence provided, including the report from the Forensic Medicine Authority's chemical lab, conclusively proved Saad El Soghayar's possession of the drugs. The rationale also highlighted that the reduced sentence aims to protect the accused from homelessness and the loss of his future, while putting an end to the potential negative impact on his art and audience.
Legal Procedures After Release
Saad El Soghayar was referred to the competent criminal court in custody to begin the trial processes according to the charges directed against him, and the public prosecutor issued an order to release him immediately after the end of the punishment period. Saad El Soghayar left the police station amid his family's and friends' anticipation, with the completion of the formal procedures ensuring the lawful conclusion of the punishment.
With this decision, the ruling of imprisoning Saad El Soghayar for six months becomes final, underscoring the stance of the Egyptian judiciary on cases of possession and consumption of drugs, considering the social and human dimensions of the accused, balancing between deterrence, punishment, and the opportunity for rehabilitation.
