Treasures hidden under houses

2004-05-08 18:30

Cairo, Egypt - Police seized thousands of priceless antiquities found in secret tunnels grooved underneath villas belonging to three businessmen previously convicted in another antiquities-smuggling scandal, police official said on Friday.

Brothers Mohammed, Mahmmoud and Farouq al-Sha'ar were convicted last week for a catalogue of charges including antiquities smuggling and bribery, receiving sentences ranging from one to 25 years in prison. An official of Egypt's ruling party was sentenced to 25 years in prison in the same case.

A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said police raided the areas around the men's homes on Wednesday and found statues dating back to the Roman period, coins and pharaonic sarcophaguses.

The official said official certificates were also found that prove the items were originals.

The official also said that Abdel Karim Abu Shanab, the former top Egyptian official for tracking stolen artefacts, is suspected of helping the businessmen in stealing the certificates from government offices and replacing them with forgeries. He was arrested last year in a separate smuggling case.

The three businessmen will be tried soon on the new charges, the police official said.

Egypt has long battled smuggling and corruption and has in recent years stepped up efforts to curb the crimes.

- AP