The competent court in southern Cairo has rejected the appeal of businessman Hassan Ratib to detain him, pending further investigations into accusations of financing former MP Alaa Hassanein to illegally excavate for antiquities. On Wednesday, the appellate judge in the South Cairo Court renewed the detention of Ratib pending investigations. Preliminary investigations revealed the involvement of Ratib in illegal archaeological excavations with Hassanein, his brother, and others. Ratib has reportedly funded these operations with dozens of millions. This was confirmed by the confessions of Hassanein’s brother that Ratib had paid millions of pounds to search for antiquities.
