Egyptian policemen charged with beating blogger to death

CAIRO - Two Egyptian policemen have been charged with torturing a young blogger and allegedly beating him to death, the prosecution said.

Mahmoud Salah Mahmoud and Awad Ismail Suleiman face charges of unwarranted arrest of Khaled Mohamed Said, 28, and torturing him. The act was revenge against Said for posting a video on the internet showing policemen dividing the profit of a drug bust among themselves, Xinhua reported citing state-run MENA news agency.

The two policemen dragged Said out of an internet cafe and allegedly beat him to death in June, the prosecution said.

However, according to the results of an autopsy ordered by the court, injuries found on Said’s body were not the cause of his death.

Officials said Said swallowed a narcotic joint during his arrest, and may have died of asphyxia.