Egypt refers nine to trial on charges of spying for Israel

Iran Press TV

Thu Jun 27, 2013 3:56PM GMT

Egypt is set to put on trial nine people, including six Israelis and three Egyptians, on charges of spying for the Israeli regime.

An Egyptian state security prosecutor said Wednesday that the Egyptian nationals were accused of passing on sensitive information to the Israelis in an attempt to harm the North African country’s national security.

The information included details on the security situation in Egypt and the location of Army bases in the restive Sinai Peninsula, the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor added that the six Israelis and one Egyptian would be tried in absentia, along with two Egyptians now in custody. They have been referred to a criminal court for trial.

Among the Israelis are four intelligence officers who had recruited the Egyptian nationals for spy work, according to a source in the prosecutor’s office.

Over the past few years, several people have been questioned or arrested over espionage charges in Egypt.

On June 15, Egyptian intelligence forces detained a man on charges of having collaborated with the Israeli spy agency Mossad for two years, recovering spy gear and surveillance equipment in his possession.

Also on April 21, Egypt dismantled a spy cell in the border city of Rafah in North Sinai, which was working for Mossad. The police arrested the ringleader, who then blew the whistle on other members of the network.

MKA/KA