Army officers sentenced to death 'for plotting Sisi's assassination'

A military court in Egypt has sentenced three army officers to death for plotting to assassinate Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, judicial sources revealed on Monday.

The sources told The New Arab that the military court sentenced the three defendants to death in complete secrecy some two weeks ago after charging them of attempting a coup and plotting to kill the president.

The three officers stand accused of planning to stage popular protests initiated by members of the armed forces that lead to the killing of President Sisi who came to power through a military coup in 2013, according to the judicial sources.

Authorities claim to have found plans and explosives in the possession of the officers.

However, another source within the judiciary told The New Arab that the officers were planning to plant explosives in the president's plane to be detonated during one of his trips abroad.

This is not the first time members of the armed forces stand accused of planning a plot against Sisi.

In August, a military court sentenced 26 officers between 10 and 25 years in jail after they were accused of joining the Muslim Brotherhood and plotting to overthrow the president and his regime and take over vital state institutions. 

Meanwhile, the families of the 26 officers have said the defendants were subjected to severe torture and were made to sign forced confessions, especially since the state has no material evidence against the 26 accused officers.

The military court is set to hear a final appeal in the case of the 26 officers on 24 December.

Egyptian authorities have recently arrested retired air force Colonel, Hani Sharaf, while he was boarding a plane to Moscow to visit his daughter who is studying at a Russian university. 

Sharaf, who is a leading figure in The Civilised Alternative Party was accused of belonging to the International Organisation of the Muslim Brotherhood.