The Alexandria Criminal Court issued a preliminary death sentence against a defendant in a high-profile schoolchildren abuse case, referring his papers to Egypt’s Grand Mufti for a mandatory religious opinion before a final verdict. This step is required under Egyptian law in all capital cases. The court also scheduled the final sentencing for next month and ordered the continued detention of a second defendant, a school gardener accused of assisting in the crimes. The case dates back to November, when police in Alexandria’s Montaza district received complaints about assaults on children at an international school. According to the Public Prosecution’s investigation, the two employees exploited their positions to isolate and assault several young pupils in areas without supervision or surveillance cameras. The first defendant was accused of committing multiple assaults, while the second defendant allegedly facilitated the crimes and helped conceal them. Child victims later identified both defendants during official legal procedures, and police investigations supported the allegations. Based on victim and witness testimony, the Public Prosecution referred the defendants to the Alexandria Criminal Court, which issued its ruling on Wednesday. The case has drawn significant public attention in Egypt due to the severity of the alleged crimes.