Court: MB defendants deliberately insulted judge panel

Cairo Criminal Court stated on Wednesday the reasons of its three-year jail sentence against 26 defendants of leading Muslim Brotherhood members over court contempt charges.
The defendants include MB Supreme Guide Mohamed Badea, former speaker of the dissolved People's Assembly Saad Katatni, Essam Erian, Mohammed Beltagui, Sawfat Hegazi and other leading MB members.
During the trial of Wadi el-Natroun jail breakout, the defendants deliberately disdained the judge panel during the trial by uttering insulting words and making some hand gestures, showing no respect to the integrity of the court, the court said.
The defendants kept shouting at the court panel and mockingly clapped their hands during the hearing.
What they have done during the trial proceedings is punishable under the Penal Code, the court said.
Deposed president Mohamed Morsi and his co-defendants, including many Muslim Brotherhood leaders, are accused of escaping from Wadi el-Natrun Prison on January 28, 2011, during the opening days of the January 25 Revolution.
They also face other charges of damaging and setting fire to prison buildings, murder, attempted murder, and looting prison weapons depots.
The defendants are also accused of freeing dangerous criminals including members of Hezbollah, Hamas, the MB and Jihadists.