Egypt's Administrative Control Authority (ACA) announced the arrest of 16 government officials involved in a corruption case related to illegal construction activities. The case centers around officials who allegedly abused their positions to facilitate and legalize recent building violations by falsely categorizing them as old violations eligible for settlement under Egyptian law.
اضافة اعلان
In a statement released Sunday, the ACA explained that the accused officials accepted bribes and illicit benefits from contractors and property owners in exchange for turning a blind eye to recent construction violations. These violations were then falsely processed as pre-existing infractions, allowing them to qualify for legal reconciliation with the state—despite a clear legislative ban on settling recent infractions.
The crackdown comes amid Egypt’s broader efforts to combat unregulated urban expansion and preserve agricultural land. Authorities have opened a pathway for citizens to resolve older building violations through financial settlements but have prohibited settlements for new infractions following the latest legislative amendments.
The investigation identified 16 defendants, including:
A deputy governor-level official,
The former head of the Technical Inspection Authority for Construction,
A district mayor,
Several other administrative figures.
Charges include bribery, forgery, abuse of power, and harming public funds. All suspects have been taken into custody pending further investigation.
The ACA emphasized its full commitment to preserving the integrity of public service and safeguarding state resources, highlighting the harmful impact such crimes have on the country’s comprehensive development efforts.
Separately, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly convened with governors and security chiefs on the same day, stressing zero tolerance for future violations, stating that all new infractions must be removed immediately and that the issue of illegal building “will be closed permanently in the interest of the nation.”
