CAIRO, Apr. 30 (Aswat Masriya) - The Port Said criminal court sentenced 20 defendants to life in prison in the "Port Said prison break" case on Saturday.

The court also sentenced 12 more defendants to 10 years in maximum security prison, while it handed 18 more five year maximum security prison sentences.

"Evil people stood behind, and aided [the defendants] in the crime," the court said as it demanded that public prosecution and other state security apparatuses investigate and find others who were involved in the alleged crime.

The court also demanded that the defendants pay the costs of damage done as a result of the alleged crime.

The case dates back to Jan. 2013 when violence erupted following the referral of a number of defendants in another case dubbed as "Port Said stadium massacre" to the Grand Mufti, to issue an opinion over sentencing them to death.

At least 40 people were killed and 79 others injured in the Port Said prison break events.   

Investigation revealed that the defendants exploited protests by civilians near the Port Said prison to allegedly practice violence and riots.