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Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Driver in Crash that Killed Actor Ashraf Abdel Ghafour Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison


Tue 05 Mar 2024 | 09:36 AM
Ashraf Abdel Ghafour
Ashraf Abdel Ghafour
Yara Sameh

Nearly three months after the accident, the driver of the vehicle that killed veteran Egyptian actor Ashraf Abdel Ghafour in a car crash last December has been sentenced in absentia to a 3-year prison term and a bail of EGP 5,000, and civil compensation of EGP 40,000.

In a statement on Monday, Shaaban Saeed, the late actor's lawyer, said the October 6 Misdemeanor Court  handed the offender who caused the death of his client, Fatimah, the wife and cousin of the late veteran actor, and damaged his car, with a sentence in absentia of 3 years, a bail of 5,000 pounds, and temporary civil compensation of 40,000 pounds.” 

The court has also ruled the offended to pay expenses and attorney's fees.

“The ruling was in absentia, and God willing, will soon become final,” he added.

Abdel Ghafour died after a car crash on the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road on December 3. He was 81.

A report from security services stated that two people were injured following a collision in front of  Mountain View Park Compound in the middle of the 6th of October city. 

The couple were on their way to visit their daughter, actress Reham Abdel Ghafour when the accident occurred. 

The late actor was using the GBS when another vehicle hit his car from behind. 

The couple was taken to a nearby Sheikh Zayed Specialized Hospital to receive the necessary medical treatment, however, Abdel Ghafour passed away from his injuries shortly afterward.

Police arrested a visual artist named Muhannad, 33, for four days pending investigation on two counts of manslaughter and wrongful injury. 

The late actor's funeral took place on Monday at the Police Mosque in Sheikh Zayed after noon prayer and was buried in his family cemetery on Al-Wahat Road.

The consolation marquee was held at the Mosque on the following day.

Abdel Ghafour, born on 22 June 1942, graduated from the High Institute of Dramatic Arts in 1963.

He began his acting career with theatrical productions such as "Lady Gulfidan" (1962), "Soliman El-Halabi" (1965), "Three Nights" (1965), "The Dead Without Graves" (1966), "Guevara's Death" (1968), "My Homeland Acre" (1968), and "The Fire and the Olives" (1969).

Abdel-Ghafour won the hearts of audiences through his roles in television series. This art form has undeniably represented most of his creative work, appearing in over 300 films, TV series, and theatrical productions over six decades.

He made his debut on the small screen with the 1967 TV series "Cairo and the People", followed by series such as "The Prayer of the Past", and "My Account with the Days".

His most recent TV series "Rasheed (2023)", starring Reham Abdel Ghafour and Mohamed Mamdouh. He will make a posthumous appearance in the star-studded TV series "Al Serr".

The famous actor leaves behind his wife, two children, a son Tamer, a daughter Reham (born 1978) who is also an actress, and grandchildren, whom he referred to as his "most important accomplishment," in a recent interview.