Cairo - A Cairo criminal court Wednesday sentenced the owner of the ferry which sank in the Red Sea three years ago, killing over 1,000 Egyptians, to seven years in prison in a case which caused political controversy in Egypt.

Mamdouh Ismail, owner of al-Salam Ferry 98 and former member of the parliament, was sentenced in absentia. Ismail went to Britain at the time of the sinking in February
2006 and has not returned.

Other officials of the ferry company were handed prison sentences varying from three to seven years in the appeals ruling.

The sentences were issued on various charges of manslaughter and negligence.

In court proceedings last year, Ismail was acquitted of any crime along with other company officials, causing a public uproar. The families of the victims appealed the court verdict.

The case led many Egyptians to question the effectiveness of the country's judicial system.

The ferry was carrying passengers from Saudi Arabia to Egypt. (dpa)