Young inventor to be detained for 15 days
On Sunday, the prosecution ordered the detention of Abdallah Assem for 15 days pending investigations. The high school student has been accused of burning an officer’s car in Minya in February.
Assem, who is originally from Assiut, was arrested in a Downtown café with his colleagues while preparing for a meeting with Minister of Education Mahmoud Aboul Nasr, which was scheduled to take place on Sunday.
Assem was invited to meet the Minister along with the five other winners of a science competition that earned them the chance to compete in the International Intel Science Competition in California in May.
17-year-old Assem had invented glasses that allow paralyzed patients to control their computer keyboard and mouse through facial movements.
Abdel Rahman, Assem’s brother, said that he was framed for the crime by people who don’t want his invention to succeed. Abdel Rahman says that the only evidence against his brother is the testimony of a classmate, Marwan Safwat, who was allegedly tortured during the investigation.
The other students arrested on Friday with Assem have since been released, while he was transferred to National Security before being taken back to Assiut.
With the 15-day detention order, Assem will not be able to travel for the competition in California, which will be in early May.
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