Egyptian businessman Hassan Rateb arrested over funding illegal excavation

CAIRO – 28 June 2021: Security forces arrested Egyptian businessman Hassan Rateb over accusations of funding a former parliamentarian in efforts of illegal excavations for antiquities, a statement revealed.

Interrogation the authorities are carrying out with MP Alaa Hassanin, who was earlier arrested along with other members, resulted in directing the accusation against Rateb.

The prosecution’s investigations, according to the statement, uncovered operations of funding worth millions of Egyptian pounds secured by Rateb for the Hassanin, his son and his gang members to dig for antiquities.

Hassanin’s confessions confirmed that Rateb paid millions of Egyptian pounds in search for antiquities, the statement read.

A judge ordered detaining Hassanin and three others for 15 days pending investigation.

Police forces last week arrested Hassanin for leading a gang involved in excavating for and dealing in antiquities. The prosecution ordered his detention for four days pending investigation.

The prosecution said it also detained 17 members of the gang he led for four days after they were caught red-handed while possessing 201 artifacts.