The Ain Shams Misdemeanor Court has ordered a temporary stay in the trial of a man accused of impersonating a judge, committing real estate fraud, and filming promotional social media videos inside a courthouse while wearing judicial sashes.
The proceedings remain suspended while a higher court evaluates a motion filed by the defense to recuse the judicial panel.
The main defendant, alongside co-conspirators and court staff, will remain in custody throughout the stay.
During the hearing, the primary suspect remained silent when confronted with the official referral order and charges.
The defense counsel argued that the defendant was mentally unsound, pointing to bizarre behavioral patterns—including carrying judicial sashes into public cafes and hiring luxury cars with private guards despite working as a manual bricklayer.
The defense has requested an official psychiatric evaluation to properly determine his mental state.
Prosecution investigations began after online social media reports detailed a housing allocation scam. Authorities subsequently arrested the suspect in possession of an unlicensed firearm, ammunition, counterfeit judicial badges, and judicial sashes.
Analysis of seized phones confirmed recorded footage filmed inside court facilities with complicit personnel.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
