Five Egyptian real estate registration officials detained in corruption case

A senior Egyptian official and four civil servants at a Real Estate Registration Office in Qalioubiya governorate were arrested on Tuesday and given a15-day detention pending investigations over corruption charges, Egypt’s state TV website reported.

According to the Administrative Control Authority, which is responsible for enforcing laws and regulations within state bodies, the five officials are suspected of wrongfully manipulating the ownership document of 10 acres of land worth EGP 260 million.

A number of Egyptian officials have been arrested in recent weeks in corruption cases.

Most recently, two high-ranking officials on Egypt’s State Council were arrested pending investigations over bribery charges. Last week, Prosecutor-General Nabil Sadek issued a media gag order in the case after one of the defendants reportedly committed suicide in police custody.

Egypt ranked 88 out of 168 countries on Transparency International’s 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index.

Source: Ahram Online