A TV presenter and 12 other defendants are facing the death penalty in a major drug trafficking case.
Sarah Khalifa was among 13 of 28 defendants whose papers were referred to Egypt’s Grand Mufti by the Cairo Criminal Court on Tuesday (4 August), a mandatory step before the court can impose death sentences.
The TV presenter and lifestyle influencer, who has almost 3m followers on social media, was arrested on suspicion of drug offences in an upmarket district of Cairo in April 2025.
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The 32-year-old and her co-defendants, including her brother, also had their assets frozen, while fugitive suspects in the case were placed on travel ban and arrival watch lists.
According to prosecutors, the defendants formed a criminal organisation that manufactured and trafficked synthetic drugs.
They allegedly imported precursor chemicals from abroad by declaring them as dietary supplements before storing them at a residential property, where the drugs were manufactured.
Investigators said they seized more than 750kg (1,653lb) of narcotics and precursor chemicals, with an estimated street value of 1.2b EGP (£18m).
Authorities also recovered drug-manufacturing equipment, cash and gold bars, as reported by Need To Know.
Khalifa is also standing trial in a separate case in which she is accused of unlawfully detaining and sexually assaulting her personal driver at her flat in New Cairo in 2021.
She denies the allegations and has denied owning the property where the alleged assault took place.
Prosecutors say investigators recovered video evidence of the alleged events from Khalifa’s mobile phone following her arrest.
Khalifa worked for several years with the ART television network, presenting the programme From Cairo, before later becoming a presenter on Iraq’s Al Sharqiya TV.
After leaving broadcasting, she launched several businesses. In 2021, she founded Sarah Production, an events and entertainment company.
She also opened a cosmetic clinic in Giza in 2019, which reportedly became popular with celebrities and wealthy clients.
Khalifa previously attracted widespread attention after marrying Egyptian footballer Mahmoud Kahraba. The couple separated after a short time.
She also appeared as an actress in the sitcom Al Takya.
The Grand Mufti will now issue a non-binding advisory opinion before the court delivers its final verdict on 5 September.
If death sentences are imposed, they will be automatically reviewed by Egypt’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, and the defendants will also have the right to appeal.
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