Egypt's Economic Misdemeanor Appeals Court has acquitted Mahmoud Mohamed Hussein Sorour, widely known as Youssef Sorour, of charges related to the alleged unlawful control of singer Sherine Abdel Wahab's social media accounts.
The court also dismissed the civil lawsuit filed against him.
Background of the Case
The legal dispute began after Sherine Abdel Wahab's lawyer accused Sorour, the former manager of her social media accounts, of refusing to hand over account passwords and allegedly profiting from the accounts without authorization.
The complaint also relied on a report claiming that Sorour had generated approximately $86,000 in YouTube revenue.
Technical Investigation Findings
No Evidence of Financial Gain
The Public Prosecution assigned the General Administration for Information Technology Crimes to examine the disputed accounts.
The technical report concluded that:
- No evidence showed Sorour had received profits from Sherine's accounts.
- The YouTube channel generated only $147 during his management.
- $47 was used to renew the channel's domain.
- The remaining $100 stayed in the account with no proof that Sorour withdrew it.
- The reported $86,000 revenue was inconsistent with the official technical findings.
Cybercrime Officer's Testimony
During the investigation, a cybercrime officer stated that Sherine's TikTok and X accounts showed no monetization notifications.
The officer also testified that some accounts could be accessed without passwords and confirmed that Sorour was the original creator of the accounts involved in the case.
Defense Arguments
Sorour's legal team argued that he had officially declared his willingness in May 2025 to hand over all account passwords directly to Sherine Abdel Wahab or to an authorized representative holding a special power of attorney.
The defense maintained that Sorour acted in good faith and never benefited financially from the accounts.
Final Verdict
After reviewing the appeal, the Economic Appeals Court overturned the previous ruling, acquitted Youssef Sorour of all charges, and dismissed the civil claim against him.
Who is Youssef Sorour?
He is the former manager of Sherine Abdel Wahab's social media accounts.
What was he accused of?
He was accused of controlling Sherine's accounts, withholding passwords, and profiting from them.
What did the technical investigation conclude?
Investigators found no evidence that Sorour earned money from the accounts.
What was the first court's ruling?
The lower court fined him 50,000 Egyptian pounds and ordered civil compensation.
What is the final judgment?
The Economic Appeals Court acquitted Youssef Sorour and dismissed the civil lawsuit.
