The US Department of Justice announced the arrest of an Egyptian citizen residing in Manhattan, New York, on charges of working for the Egyptian government and collecting information regarding opponents of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
“A New York man was arrested today on criminal charges related to his alleged work and conspiracy to act as a foreign agent in the United States,” a statement from the US Department of Justice said on its official website, Thursday. “According to court documents, Pierre Gerges, 39, of Manhattan, acted in the United States as an agent for the Egyptian government, without notifying the US Attorney as required by law,” the statement added.
She explained that “Girgis acted under the direction and control of several Egyptian government officials in an effort to advance the interests of the Egyptian government in the United States.. Among other things, on the instructions of Egyptian government officials, Gerges allegedly tracked down and obtained information regarding political opponents of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
“Girgis also allegedly made use of his communications with local US law enforcement officers to gather non-public information at the direction of Egyptian officials, arrange benefits for Egyptian officials visiting Manhattan, and coordinate meetings between the United States,” the US Justice Department said.
“The Department of Justice will not allow agents of foreign governments to operate in the United States to prosecute and collect information regarding critics of those governments,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew J. Olsen. He added, “Girgis agreed to target critics of the Egyptian government who are in the United States… This indictment begins the process of holding him accountable for his actions that contradict our laws and values.”
US Attorney Damian Williams of the Southern District of New York confirmed that “at the request of Egyptian officials, Gerges’ alleged prohibited behavior included an attempt to secretly collect non-public intelligence information on the activities of political opponents of the Egyptian president, and an attempt to allow foreign officials entry to attend law enforcement training only in Manhattan”.
According to the indictment, on or regarding May 7, 2018, Gerges discussed his status as an agent of the Egyptian government with an Egyptian official, using an encrypted messaging application. Gerges is accused of “conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Public Prosecutor, which carries a sentence of five to 10 years in prison.”
Source: Sputnik
