Prosecutor General Talaat Abdallah summoned former MP Essam Sultan, deputy chairman of the moderate Islamist Wasat Party, for questioning on Monday regarding statements he made allegedly accusing several judges of receiving gifts from media organizations.
The recently resigned Justice Minister Ahmed Mekky submitted the summons, according a statement published by the prosecutor’s office on its Facebook page.
“The minister requested that [Sultan] be questioned and evidence in his possession to be verified,” the statement read.
Sultan had been quoted in earlier reports as saying that bribes amounting to LE300,000 had been paid to a number of judges.
Tensions have been on the rise over the past days among workers in the judicial system as the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party is pushing for a draft law that would bring changes to the judicial authority. Opposition groups believe the group is attempting to influence the judiciary through the bill. The Brotherhood, and other supporters of the draft, believes the bill would purge the judicial system of judges loyal to the ousted regime.
The Brotherhood and other Islamist groups held protests last Friday in support of the bill.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
