Court ruse lands cops behind bars

A court in the Egyptian city of Luxor has sentenced seven policemen to six months each in prison for an attempt to impersonate a suspect at a trial.

The officers resorted to the ruse after their detainee's embarrassing escape from custody on the eve of his court appearance on drug charges in 2000.

They persuaded a colleague to pose as Mohammed Sami, but another defendant who knew him gave the game away.

Sami, who was later recaptured, was finally sentenced to 10 years inside.

An eighth policeman implicated in the case was acquitted at Wednesday's trial.