Captain Islam Nabih and Corporal Reda Fathi were arrested in December after Egyptian Internet blogs widely circulated a covertly recorded video of an incident almost two years ago in which a man was sodomised with a stick.

Minibus driver Imad al-Kabir later accused Nabih and Fathi of torturing him in a Cairo police station after he was detained for intervening to stop an argument between the police officers and his brother.

"God is most great. Long live justice," an overjoyed Kabir screamed after the judge read the verdict. "I regained my right ... I can walk with my head high again," he told reporters.

Court officials said both men will appeal.

Human rights group Amnesty International called the verdict a "positive step" but said in a statement Egyptian authorities should do more to stop torture.

"The sentencing ... must herald more concerted action by the Egyptian authorities to ensure that all torture allegations are thoroughly investigated and that those responsible for torturing and ill-treating detainees are held accountable," it said.

International and local rights groups say torture is widespread and systematic in Egyptian jails and police stations.

Past victims have reported receiving electric shocks and beatings. Egypt says it opposes torture and prosecutes policemen against whom it has evidence that they tortured.

The video showed Kabir lying on the floor, naked from the waist down, his hands bound behind his back and his legs held in the air. He screams and begs as he is sodomised with a stick while those around him, whose faces are not visible, taunt him.

Kabir's lawyer said the officers threatened his client after he filed a complaint with authorities. Kabir was later sentenced to three months in jail for resisting and obstructing the authorities and assaulting a policeman in the same incident.

A number of high profile torture cases have come to light in recent months, including allegations of police torturing a 13-year-old who subsequently died of his injuries.