ROME – An additional five Egyptian intelligence agents have been added to the list of suspects for the torture and murder of Cambridge student Giulio Regeni, as another unfruitful meeting between national proxies ended and was described as a “punch in the face” from Cairo by the Italian President of the Chamber, Roberto Fico, in an interview with Tg1.

  Despite the lack of cooperation, after a request for information made by Egyptian prosecutor Hamada Elsawy, and confirmed during a video conference with Rome prosecutors Michele Prestipino and Sergio Colaiocco, an additional five more Egyptian intelligence operators have been added to the original list of five, reports Il Fatto Quotidiano.

  Regeni’s body was found in Feb. 2016 next to a highway in Cairo, and his body showed signs of extreme torture. Cairo’s version of events runs contrary to the evidence, there have been consistent obstructive efforts such as when faked personal artefacts of Regeni’s were recently sent back to Italy, and a new Cairo prosecutor, Hamada Al Sawi, has taken up an even more aggressive stance towards the investigation, reports Corriere Della Sera.

  The final extension to the investigation, as requested by Sergio Colaiocco, expires on Nov. 28 2020. Mohamed Lotfly, the lawyer representing the Regeni case from Egypt, spoke of the latest meeting that: “Egypt makes fun of you, has no reason to cooperate, has already got everything. I’m pretty sure the Italian secret services know much more than what has been said,” quoted from Corriere Della Sera.

  Although Fico has called for a quick and firm response, the Italian Prime Minster Guiseppe Conte has been cautious in his rhetoric, refusing only to visit Egypt. "It is a question that we follow with the utmost attention, we do not remain indifferent, I will acquire more information," he said, as quoted in La Stampa, also noting that one meeting would not automatically result in a diplomatic shift in stance from the Palazzo Chigi.

  Regeni’s parents have criticised "shaking hands" diplomacy defended by PM Conte only a few weeks ago, reports Il Fatto Quotidiano.

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