Egypt agric minister held over corruption

Egypt’s Agriculture Minister Selah Eddin Helal has been arrested shortly after resigning on Monday. Security and judicial sources said that he was being held as part of a corruption probe. A statement from the prime minister’s office said Mr Helal had resigned on the orders of President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. It is the first arrest […]

Egypt’s Agriculture Minister Selah Eddin Helal has been arrested shortly after resigning on Monday.
Security and judicial sources said that he was being held as part of a corruption probe.
A statement from the prime minister’s office said Mr Helal had resigned on the orders of President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.
It is the first arrest of a high-profile official in such a case since Mr Sisi was elected in May 2014.
Reports say the arrest is in connection to allegations that officials took bribes to help businessmen illegally acquire state land.
Prosecutors had last week banned the media from reporting the investigation.
Mr Sisi has promised to make the fight against corruption a focus of his administration.