6 arrested for attempting to sell state land at fraction of price

CAIRO - 14 July 2019: The Administrative Control Authority (ACA) arrested on Sunday six suspects involved in a corruption case, where some individuals attempted to purchase a state-owned land that is worth LE 6 billion for just LE 350 million.

The suspects include an employee at 6 of October City Authority, another at the New Urban Communities Authority, two managers of a real estate brokerage company, and two owners of a real estate development firm. The Public Prosecution ordered their detention for four days pending investigation.

Earlier this month, Public Prosecutor Nabil Sadeq referred to Cairo Criminal Court five defendants charged with committing larceny and forgery to unlawfully acquire buildings possessed by the Ministry of Interior in Cairo's Shubra neighborhood.

The buildings are a National Security office, a fire station, a civil registration office, and a supply police office. The buildings stretch over 4,000 square meters and are worth LE 170 million. The defendants include four officials at the Real Estate Registration Authority, and are accused of facilitating the unlawful acquisition by the fifth defendant.

The Supreme State Security Prosecution interrogated last week a judge of October Court of Appeal over bribery charges. In the wake of receiving information on the bribery charges, the prosecution ordered an audio recording for him before he was arrested.