Egypt's High State Security Prosecution has ordered the detention of a senior police officer for four days pending investigation into bribery charges in a corruption case involving the head of the country's Customs Authority. Last month, Egyptian authorities arrested and detained the head of the Egyptian Customs Authority Gamal Abdelazim over allegations of accepting bribes to permit the entry of goods into the country without the payment of customs duties. The Administrative Control Authority has said that Abdelazim instructed his subordinates to reduce the fines imposed on seized goods. Prosecutors on Wednesday arrested two police officers in the Suez Canal city of Port Said for their suspected involvement in the case. Following questioning, prosecutors ordered the detention of one of the officers, who is with the tax evasion department, pending investigations into receiving bribes. The prosecution ordered the release of the other officer. Egypt's Administrative Control Authority, the country's anti-corruption watchdog, has in recent months filed several graft-related cases involving top state officials, including head of the Food Industries Holding Company in May and Menoufiya governor in January.
