Egyptian authorities have arrested several people over an alleged scheme involving fake judges accused of defrauding members of the public of their money.
The Ministry of Interior says the suspects allegedly staged fake court proceedings and impersonated a judge on social media to deceive victims into handing over money.
According to the ministry, the principal suspects—an unemployed man and a student residing in Cairo and Giza—have been detained, while investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the alleged fraud network.
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Upon questioning, they confessed to forming a criminal gang taking money from citizens by falsely claiming they could allocate housing from government agencies, it added.
They also are said to have admitted staging fake court scenes with the help of others.
State-owned newspaper al-Ahram said several suspects believed to have taken part in the plot were detained and referred for an expedited criminal trial.
The plot reportedly came to light when authorities launched an investigation when a man claimed he had been defrauded by a man falsely presenting himself as a judge.
The main suspect was then arrested, with police seising a firearm, judicial sash and identity cards bearing his fake judicial title, the paper said.
He is also said to have confessed to filming photos and videos inside a courthouse while wearing the judicial sash to boost his credibility.
The paper reported he admitted he was helped by a second suspect, with the help of several court employees.
The second main suspect is reported to have confessed to taking part in filming and publishing the images and videos while claiming on social media to be a judge, according to prosecutors.
The paper added court employees were also detained and questioned, with them claiming the main suspect had told them he worked for one of Egypt’s judicial authorities.
BBC
