South Sinai criminal court sentenced 50 policemen on Thursday to three years in prison for charges related to a strike they held last January protesting changes in their vacation system, according to the official Middle East News Agency (MENA).

The court charged the policemen with illegal assembly, sabotage of state assets and endangering citizens. The court sentenced 10 policemen to three years and a 500LE fine and 40 others to three years in addition to termination of employment.

The policemen held a two-day strike in January at the South Sinai security directorate objecting to the alteration of the work system which consisted of 15 days of work and 15 days of vacation to 20 days of work and 10 days of vacation.

Security forces dispersed the sit-in and arrested 87 protesters, 50 of which were referred to trial. The remaining 37 were referred to internal investigation.