Arrested Egypt judge hangs himself amid graft scandal

A senior Egyptian judge hanged himself in custody on Monday, a day after his arrest in connection with an investigation into a corruption case, his lawyer said. 

Wael Shalabi, secretary general of the council of state, an administrative court, was taken in for questioning yesterday, said his lawyer Sayed el-Beheiry. After questioning him, prosecutors ordered that he be detained for four days pending further investigation, he said. Shalabi’s arrest came days after the Administrative Control Authority responsible for tracking corruption in state institutions arrested the council of state’s chief procurement officer, Gamal el-Labban.

The public prosecutor’s office issued a gag order on publishing details of the case shortly after news broke about Shalabi’s death. “He faced a lot of pressure” during interrogation when he “denied accusations that were directed at him”, Beheiry said. “He went to the bathroom, and hung himself. This is negligence on their part because he was subject to psychological pressure,” added the lawyer.