“Build a home” in the 6th of October City with bribery

Fady Mohamed Mostafa is a 26 year old Egyptian man, who is married and has a daughter who is 20 months old. He went to industrial secondary school and works as a real estate broker in an office in 6th of October City. He also owns a kiosk in accordance with the project “build a home” which was introduced by the National Democratic Party to give loans to people to “build a home”. The police officers in Police station 2 of 6th of October City had a different scenario in mind.

Fady had to pay the price of living in 6th of October City, which is to bribe a police officer in Police Station 2 of 6th of October City. He however, would not pay it. He had the money but believed that his wife and daughter were more deserving of it. What would make him pay a bribe if he has not broken the law? He complied with the invitation of the National Democratic Part for the youth of Egypt to ‘build a home’.

At 3PM on 5/04/2009 a group of men; Captain Ahmed Samir Sha’ban from Investigative Services and police officers Mohamed Salah and Khaled Saber Hemdan Abdel Tawab arrested him and took him to 6th Of October City’s Police Station 2.

Fady says:
“There were day workers in the van…. Captain Ahmed Samir was hitting everyone as he passed. He hit me, I turned to him and I said to him do you think I am a thief or a criminal? All you have a right to ask of me is my National Identity card and here it is. He ordered the police officers to handcuff me behind my back. In the hallway of the Police Station that has doors leading to the offices of the Police Officers and the Director of Investigative Services, they started hitting me. The captain and five police officers. They slapped me on my face. I bowed down, so the captain elbowed me in my back. I felt a terrible pain and I limped for a period. They kept hitting me for twenty minutes.

At 2:30AM on 06/04/2009 they finished their investigation of Fady. That day Shady made a complaint at the 6th of October City’s Prosecutor’s office (number 1845 for the year 2009). They referred him to the forensic Doctor on 7 of April. The medical report confirmed that Fady was tortured.

“Does one declare war on the government?” “This area is ours and any of the officers who are our friends can fabricate a case against you”. This is how the police officer explained the situation to Fady during a long series of threats and drop-ins and questioning of his friends and neighbours. All for the purpose of him withdrawing his complaint. Under pressure, Fady was compelled to leave his home, close his office and lease out his kiosk. He gathered all his furniture and belongings quickly in order to find things to sell so that he can live on the proceeds.

“I even had to sell me daughter’s earrings”

On 12th May 2009 Fady made another complaint to the Public Prosecutor (number 8960) about the never-ending threats that he receives about fabricating a case against him.

Fady also went to a number of newspapers in an attempt to publish his story, hoping that it will make someone take his complaint seriously. Most of them refused to publish. An independent newspaper advised him to make a complaint at the office of the Assistant of Ministry of Interior, where he met Colonel Ala’a Mahmoud who sent him to 6th of October City’s investigative services who sent him to an Inspector in Investigative services who cursed at and threatened Fady and his attorney further.
It is important to note that Fady is not the first victim of Captain Ahmed Samir. The list of formal complaints made against him is long. Note also that Ahmed Samir’s brother, Officer Karim Samir is the officer of investigative services for 6th October City’s Police Station 1, who also contributed in pressuring Fady to withdraw his complaint against his brother.

What is the relationship between the brothers in Police Station 1 and Police Station 2 and the Inspector for Investigative Services and what is between them and the group of Police Officers who collect the bribes. Fady awaits justice from the Prosecutor’s office.

Will justice allow him to finally “build a home”?