A committee has been formed to determine which plots of land, villas, and chalets were given away by the former minister of housing, Mohamed Ibrahim Suleiman, who is currently facing corruption charges.
Eyewitnesses in New Cairo said that the committee stopped at several villas and recorded the names of the owners, and inquired about how plots of lands in the area are usually bought. The committee also asked a number of security guards about the owners of empty plots. The list subsequently generated by the committee includes names of current ministers, businessmen and officials.
A security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the committee’s main aim is to list those who illegally took over state-owned land.
"This list will be submitted to public prosecution for investigations. The fact that the names of some important figures appear on the list does not mean these people will necessarily be questioned. They may have taken the land legally," the source said.
Meanwhile, the Public Funds Prosecution has heard the testimonies of four housing officials in Sheikh Zayed. The testimonies of the four officials varied– some of them accused the ex-minister of violations, while others denied any knowledge of such conduct, saying that officials under Suleiman should be questioned.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
