Egyptian authorities have arrested an engineer at the Egyptian Atomic Energy Agency on charges of spying for Israel. Mohammed Sayed Sabar Ali, 35, has been accused of passing sensitive information to two foreigners, one of whom is Japanese and the other, Irish. Egyptian security services allege that the foreigners are agents for the Israeli intelligence agency, the Mossad, and that they paid Ali for the data he provided. Both of the non-Egyptians accused of acting on Israel's behalf have been charged in absentia.
The non-Egyptians accused of acting on Israel's behalf have been charged in absentia.
Egyptian Chief Prosecutor Hisham Badawi held a press conference Tuesday during which he revealed the details of the case. According to the prosecution, Ali was paid $17,000 to supply the purported two Israeli agents with classified documents he downloaded from the Atomic Energy Agency's computers. In order to accomplish the technological theft, the Egyptians allege, Ali was given a laptop by the foreigners, along with advanced spyware that he installed on the government computers to which he had access.
According to the charges, Ali successfully carried out certain acts of espionage on behalf of the Israelis, although how extensive the intelligence was that he allegedly provided before his arrest was not specified.
Egypt has acknowledged carrying out research for developing a nuclear power plant, which is expected to go on-line by 2017.
In February, as well, Chief Prosecutor Badawi announced that charges were filed against three Israelis and an Egyptian on suspicion of spying for Israel. The Israelis are in Canada and Turkey and therefore have not been arrested.
Badawi identified two of the Israelis charged in February as Kemal Kosba and Tuncay Bubay, who are also Turkish nationals. The third Israeli suspect was identified as Daniel Levi. The Egyptian man charged with espionage on behalf of Israel in that incident, Mohammad Essam Al-Attar, also holds Canadian citizenship. He was arrested by Egyptian authorities in Cairo. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it knew nothing about the charges.
The non-Egyptians accused of acting on Israel's behalf have been charged in absentia.
Egyptian Chief Prosecutor Hisham Badawi held a press conference Tuesday during which he revealed the details of the case. According to the prosecution, Ali was paid $17,000 to supply the purported two Israeli agents with classified documents he downloaded from the Atomic Energy Agency's computers. In order to accomplish the technological theft, the Egyptians allege, Ali was given a laptop by the foreigners, along with advanced spyware that he installed on the government computers to which he had access.
According to the charges, Ali successfully carried out certain acts of espionage on behalf of the Israelis, although how extensive the intelligence was that he allegedly provided before his arrest was not specified.
Egypt has acknowledged carrying out research for developing a nuclear power plant, which is expected to go on-line by 2017.
In February, as well, Chief Prosecutor Badawi announced that charges were filed against three Israelis and an Egyptian on suspicion of spying for Israel. The Israelis are in Canada and Turkey and therefore have not been arrested.
Badawi identified two of the Israelis charged in February as Kemal Kosba and Tuncay Bubay, who are also Turkish nationals. The third Israeli suspect was identified as Daniel Levi. The Egyptian man charged with espionage on behalf of Israel in that incident, Mohammad Essam Al-Attar, also holds Canadian citizenship. He was arrested by Egyptian authorities in Cairo. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it knew nothing about the charges.
