A Shahid Law defense team appearing before the Appeals Division of the Cairo Economic Court secured the acquittal of the managing director of a leading Egyptian media services company that was wrongfully accused of possessing and using unlicensed mobile satellite newsgathering equipment (SNG), an offence that carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment for 5 years.
The team successfully reversed the First Instance Court’s decision by arguing, among other things, that the prosecution ignored fundamental National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (“NTRA”) technical reports concerning the components of the seized equipment, which ultimately led it to mischaracterize the case as that of unlawful possession and use of unlicensed SNG. The team explained to the Court of Appeal the technical differences between broadcasting and telecommunications equipment, the interaction between Egypt’s Telecommunications Law and new Media Law, and the scope of licensing powers of technology and media regulators.
Partner Tarek Badawy, and Senior Associates Osama Hammad and Khaled El-Sharkawy represented the client before the Cairo Economic Court.
