Arrests in Egypt after people allegedly impersonate judges

Egyptian authorities have apprehended multiple individuals in connection with an alleged scheme involving impostor judges who sought to swindle money from the public.

According to Egypt's Ministry of Interior, the purported fraud encompassed the creation of counterfeit courtroom scenarios and the impersonation of a judge on various social media platforms. The ministry confirmed the detention of the primary suspects: an unemployed man and a student, both residents of Cairo and Giza.

During interrogation, the suspects reportedly admitted to forming a criminal organization that extorted money from citizens under the false pretense of securing government housing allocations. They are also said to have confessed to orchestrating mock court proceedings with the assistance of others.

The state-owned newspaper al-Ahram reported that several individuals suspected of involvement in the plot have been taken into custody and are slated for an expedited criminal trial. The alleged scheme reportedly came to light following an investigation initiated after a man reported being defrauded by an individual falsely claiming to be a judge.

The main suspect was subsequently arrested, with police confiscating a firearm, a judicial sash, and identification cards displaying his fabricated judicial title, as per the newspaper. He is also said to have confessed to filming photographs and videos inside a courthouse while wearing the judicial sash to enhance his credibility. The paper further stated that he admitted to receiving assistance from a second suspect, along with several court employees.

Prosecutors reportedly indicate that the second main suspect confessed to participating in the filming and dissemination of these images and videos, all while asserting on social media that he was a judge. The newspaper added that court employees were also detained and questioned, claiming that the main suspect had informed them he was employed by one of Egypt's judicial authorities.