Egypt's public prosecutor Nabil Sadek (Photo: Al-Ahram)
Egyptian prosecutors on Friday ordered the detention of the head of Old Cairo district for four days pending investigations into bribery charges, state news agency MENA reported.
The local official, Mohamed Zein El-Abedin, was arrested red-handed while taking a bribe of EGP 1 million (approximately $55,800) from a demolition contractor in return for disbursing funds owed to him by the local authorities, Egypt's Administrative Control Authority said on Thursday.
Prosecutors have accused him of requesting and accepting a bribe to “perform one of his work duties and overlook some violations."
The case is the latest in a string of corruption cases brought by the Administrative Control Authority, the country's anti-corruption watchdog, against top state officials in recent months. Those charged include the former head of the Egyptian Customs Authority, the head of the state Food Industries Holding Company, and a number of supply ministry officials.
In November, a former governor of Menoufiya was sentenced to 10 years in prison for accepting a bribe of over EGP 27 million.
Short link: