Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The Damanhour Criminal Court has sentenced the Gezira Sporting Club Chairman Ibrahim Zaher to a one year in prison with hard labor after convicting him in a forgery case linked to the sale of a fuel station, marking a major legal setback for one of the country’s most prominent sports administrators.
The verdict was handed down on Thursday by the Fifth Circuit of the Damanhour Criminal Court, which also ordered the confiscation of the forged document at the center of the case and required the defendant to pay court costs.
The ruling follows years of legal proceedings in a case dating back to 2012. Prosecutors accused Zaher of involvement in the forgery of an official sales contract related to a fuel station located in the West Nubaria area of Beheira governorate.
A Long-Running Case Reaches a Verdict
The case moved through Egypt’s criminal court system over several years, during which judges reviewed disputed documents and heard testimony from prosecution witnesses. During the most recent hearings, the defense team presented its arguments and sought to challenge the evidence before the court reserved judgment.
Following the conclusion of proceedings, the court ordered Zaher’s detention pending Thursday’s verdict, which ultimately resulted in a prison sentence.
The judgment was issued by a judicial panel headed by Counselor Essam Mohamed Abdo El-Sayed and a bench of senior judges from the Damanhour Criminal Court.
Club Sought to Reassure Members Ahead of Judgment
Hours before the verdict was announced, Gezira Sporting Club’s board of directors issued a statement addressing the legal case involving its chairman, emphasizing the club’s respect for Egypt’s judiciary and expressing confidence in the legal process.
The board said it trusted the courts to establish the facts and stressed that the principle of the rule of law remained paramount. It also sought to reassure members that the club’s sporting, administrative and social activities would continue normally regardless of the outcome of the case.
According to the statement, the board planned consultations with the club’s legal committee to review available legal and administrative options while safeguarding the interests of members and preserving the institution’s reputation.
Potential Next Steps
While Thursday’s ruling represents a significant development in the case, the legal process may not be over. Under Egyptian law, convicted defendants can pursue further legal remedies through the appeals process, depending on the procedural status of the case and the nature of the judgment.
The verdict is likely to draw attention within Egypt’s sporting community given the Gezira Sporting Club’s status as the country’s oldest and most influential sports institutions, with thousands of members and a prominent role in Egyptian athletics and social life.
The court’s decision concludes the latest chapter in a case that has remained before the judiciary for more than a decade, bringing renewed scrutiny to one of the most high-profile figures in Egyptian sports administration.
