CAIRO, Sept 10 (Aswat Masriya) – A Giza misdemeanour court sentenced on Wednesday a manager of an Orphanage to two years' hard labour for using violence against children and one year in prison for beating the children and possessing weapons.

The one-year prison sentence will be suspended should the defendant pay a one thousand Egyptian-pound bail.

Osama Mohamed Othman, owner of the Mecca orphanage, was caught on camera while beating, spanking and kicking children who reside in the orphanage. The video, which has reportedly been uploaded by Othman’s wife, has widely circulated since its release on August 3. 

Journalists were prevented from attending Wednesday's session.

The Giza prosecutor had referred the defendant to court after charging him with physically assaulting seven children in the orphanage and endangering their lives through subjecting them to torture.

Othman was accused of “thuggery”, endangering children’s lives and “the possession of a stick for thuggery purposes,” said Osama Hanafy, the prosecutor holding the investigations.

The Giza prosecutor had ordered the confiscation of the orphanage and the referral of the children it housed to the Ministry of Social Solidarity.

The forensics authority examined the children on August 5 and reported injuries which date back to the time the video was taken. 

Othman has reportedly admitted beating the children under the pretext of “disciplining” them.