(AFP Photo)
The Supreme State Security Prosecution has sentenced an Egyptian to 15 days imprisonment pending investigations into allegations of espionage. The state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram reported the private sector employee is accused of working as a spy for the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency.
The prosecution says the accused had been working for Mossad since 2011 and tried to disassociate himself in mid-2011 after he believed his involvement with Mossad was exposed. The suspect, according to Al-Ahram, contacted the Egyptian General intelligence Service and warned them he had been contacted by Mossad in an attempt to recruit him.
The defendant was told to cease communications with Mossad and allegedly failed to comply. Al-Ahram concluded the man maintained communications in the hopes of being paid, and had warned the Egyptian intelligence agency in order to diffuse any suspicion on him.
According to the head of the prosecution, Shadi Al-Barquqi, investigations revealed the suspect was monitored throughout the past two years and enough evidence against him has been collected to warrant his arrest.
The suspect was allegedly arrested possessing covert listening devices and a device used to communicate with Israel.
Accusations of espionage for the Israeli government are nothing new in Egypt. In April, the President of the Board of Directors of the telecom giant Mobinil was sentenced to three years imprisonment for “collusion with another country”.
Also in April, security forces claimed they had uncovered an Israeli spy ring in North Sinai which consisted of eight Egyptians and Palestinians.
In December last year, a Russian-Israeli described as being pro-Palestinian was arrested on the Taba border. He was initially suspected of being an Israeli spy before being sentenced to two years imprisonment for illegally entering Egypt.
