Egypt's justice ministry began Saturday technical examination of samples taken from Italian student Giulio Regeni's body, an aide to the justice minister said.
Aide to Egypt's justice minister for forensic medicine Shaaban al-Shamy told Aswat Masriya that medical examiners took samples from all of Regeni's organs as well as a DNA sample, adding that results will be sent to prosecution after their completion.
Regeni, a 28-year-old Italian Ph.D. student in Cambridge University, disappeared on Jan. 25, on the fifth anniversary of the 2011 Uprising that toppled former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Regeni was a visiting scholar at the American University in Cairo, and conducted research on independent trade unions.
Ten days later, Regeni’s body was found along the side of the Cairo-Alexandria desert road, marred by torture marks and bruises in different places, according to the chief prosecutor for accidents in Egypt's South Giza.
Italy sent out a team of investigators to collaborate with Egyptian police on Friday. Italian news agencies including RAI and ANSA had earlier said a team of investigators comprising seven men from Italian police and Interpol will take part in the investigation.
Since the incident, Egypt and Italy have been engaged in high- level diplomatic efforts to follow up on the investigations procedures.
On Thursday, Italy's foreign ministry summoned Egypt’s ambassador to Italy Amr Mostafa Kamal Helmy to express "shock" over the “tragic death" of Regeni, the ministry said in an official statement on its website.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi offered his condolences to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in a phone call on Thursday. Sisi stressed that Egyptian authorities will continue their efforts to unravel the "mystery" behind Regeni’s death, reported state-run MENA news agency.
Italy demanded an immediate joint investigation to be held with the participation of Italian experts and demanded the rapid repatriation of Regeni’s body to Italy.
