Arrests in Egypt after people allegedly impersonate judges

Several people have been arrested in Egypt over an alleged plot by fake judges to defraud people of their money.

Egypt's Ministry of Interior said the alleged scam involved fabricated scenes in court and impersonating a judge on social media.

The main suspects, an unemployed man and a student residing in Cairo and Giza, have been detained, the ministry said.

Upon questioning, they confessed to forming a criminal gang taking money from citizens by falsely claiming they could allocate housing from government agencies, it added.

They also are said to have admitted staging fake court scenes with the help of others.

State-owned newspaper al-Ahram said several suspects believed to have taken part in the plot were detained and referred for an expedited criminal trial.

The plot reportedly came to light when authorities launched an investigation when a man claimed he had been defrauded by a man falsely presenting himself as a judge.

The main suspect was then arrested, with police seizing a firearm, judicial sash and identity cards bearing his fake judicial title, the paper said.