Khaberni - The Egyptian Public Prosecution decided today, Tuesday, to release the artist Mahmoud Hegazy on a financial bail of 50,000 Egyptian pounds, pending the ongoing investigations into an incident where he is accused of harassing a young woman holding foreign nationality, after his detention period ended, which lasted 24 hours pending the arrival of investigations by the security agencies in Egypt.
The prosecution's decision came after hearing the artist's statements and confronting him with the charges attributed to him, in an incident dating back to January, where the investigating authorities ordered his presentation to the Egyptian Forensic Medicine Authority, in addition to directing the criminal investigation departments to conduct the necessary investigations regarding the circumstances of the report and the claims it contained.
Despite the decision to release him in the current case, Mahmoud Hegazy is still awaiting the first sessions of his trial in another separate case, scheduled to be heard before the Egyptian Misdemeanors Court on February 21st.
Details of the complaint
The case details go back to a complaint filed by a woman of foreign and Egyptian origins, in which she accused the artist of harassing her inside one of the famous hotels in downtown Cairo, prompting the Egyptian security services to arrest him and the investigating authorities to listen to both parties’ statements.
During the investigations, Mahmoud Hegazy firmly denied the accusations, affirming that the relationship he had with the complainant was one of acquaintance and friendship that started through social media and evolved into personal meetings during her stay in Egypt, and he emphasized that what occurred between them was consensual.
On the other hand, the woman stated, according to the investigation records, that she agreed to meet after experiencing pressures and threats, and that the artist went up to her room in a hotel in Cairo under the pretense of sitting and having drinks, before, according to her, being subjected to a forcible sexual assault, which the artist denies, relying on electronic conversations he said prove the nature of the relationship.
Case of assault on his wife
The Egyptian Public Prosecution had previously decided to release Mahmoud Hegazy on a bail of 10,000 Egyptian pounds in another separate case, relating to his accusation of assaulting his wife, following an official complaint she filed against him.
It is noteworthy that Mahmoud Hegazy is considered one of the young faces that have emerged in Egyptian drama and cinema in recent years, and has participated in a number of prominent works, including series "The Bride", "The Godfather", "Kafr Delhab", "Wanus", "Civil War", "Earthquake", alongside the movie "Running of the Beasts".
