Twelve officials from the Ministry of Antiquities were referred Monday to a disciplinary trial for the illegal “seizure of samples from the Great Pyramid” among other alleged disciplinary violations during the period between July and November 2013, said an Administrative Control Authority (ACA) press statement.
According to the statement, the accused parties allowed German tourists visiting the Great Pyramid in 2013 to seize samples of the walls and ceilings in the burial room of King Khufu, which resulted in noticeable scratches on the walls, deforming the ancient structure.
The investigations also showed that the parties were guilty of illegally practising tour guidance and allowing tourists to take photographs, enter burial rooms, and seize antique samples.
The ACA has launched several campaigns against corruption. Partners for Transparency (PFORT) reported earlier in 2017 that 67 corruption incidents in state institutions were documented in February, as well as 968 incidents of corruption in 2016.
