Dr. Fritz Katz, director of the Jewish Hospital in Alexandria, who is on trial before an Egyptian military court on espionage charges, attempted to commit suicide in prison but has recovered since, it was reported here today. Another defendant in the same trial, Captain Ali Hamadeh, also survived a suicide attempt. Both prisoners received medical treatment.
Both suicide attempts were revealed during the trial after the prosecutor reported them to the president of the court. Egyptian authorities at first attempted to conceal the suicide attempts and there were no details as to when or in what circumstances they occurred. Reports in the Arab press also hinted that Dr. Katz complained that he was maltreated by prison guards and investigators.
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