Cairo Appeals Court set April 5 as the first session of the trial of three defendants of the State Council over bribery charges.

State Council's procurement manager Gamal El Laban and others were referred to court after investigations by the High State Prosecution revealed that El Laban and others received presents in return for breaching their duties and forging documents.

According to investigations, the owner of the Khouloud Office Furniture Association and his wife admitted that El Laban and now-deceased former Secretary-General of the council Wael Shalaby requested EGP 800,000 from them as a bribe in return for a selective tender for the year 2016/17 to provide office furniture to the Council. 

El Laban forged two documents saying that an inspection committee received the furniture bought through the tender, as well as a document requesting the furniture be transferred to the Council's storerooms. There was no actual purchase or transfer of furniture.

Source: MENA