Egypt’s Agriculture Minister Arrested on Suspicion of Corruption

(Reuters) Egypt’s agriculture minister resigned on Monday and was arrested on suspicion of corruption shortly after leaving the cabinet building.

“He was arrested in connection with a corruption case involving illegal land licenses,” a security official said. “He is under investigation.”

The minister, Salah El Din Mahmoud Helal, could not immediately be reached for comment, but the prime minister’s office said his resignation had been accepted on the instructions of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The prosecutor general’s office said it was investigating ministry officials including Helal on suspicion of taking bribes in exchange for granting land licenses, according to a statement carried by the state news agency MENA.

It said Helal was in detention, and barred further reporting of the case.

Read the full story at Reuters.