A Cairo court has delayed the trial of Ismail Dollar and four others, charged with thuggery, displaying strength, and threatening violence in the Mokatm area. The case involves allegations that the defendants used coercion to extort money from tenants in a commercial complex. The court, sitting in the Zenhom complex, decided to adjourn the trial to October 7. The case has garnered significant attention due to the severity of the allegations.
According to investigations, the victims, including Samer Mahmoud Mohamed Rashid Al-Sabagh, reported that the defendants, led by Ismail Dollar, resorted to strong-arm tactics. These included breaking into electrical control rooms, cutting off power, and intimidating tenants. The alleged incidents occurred on August 23, 2026. The complainants stated that they had been facing demands for excessive rent increases and additional payments for maintenance and external spaces.
The investigations revealed that the defendants, including Bahy M., the chairman of the company, had been making unreasonable demands on tenants. When the tenants refused, the company allegedly used strong-arm tactics to force compliance. The victims described being subjected to harassment and threats, both in person and over the phone. The defendants purportedly claimed that they could cut off services and prevent access to the complex.
During interrogations, the defendants denied the allegations. Ismail Dollar claimed he was at the scene only to inspect the premises for a security company he owns. However, security investigations led by Police Colonel Mahmoud Mahjoub contradicted these claims. The investigations suggested that Ismail Dollar and Bahy M. had colluded to use force and intimidation against tenants.
A technical report by the South Cairo Electricity Distribution Company supported the allegations. The report stated that there was evidence of an attempt to break into the electrical control room. The company managing the complex had no authority to access or manipulate the electrical systems. Furthermore, there were no official complaints about a power outage at the time of the incident.
Video footage obtained by investigators appears to show Ismail Dollar boasting about his influence and threatening those who oppose him. The footage, which includes logos and accounts from social media platforms, was confiscated and sealed as evidence. The prosecution is pursuing charges of thuggery, displaying strength, and threatening violence.
The case has raised concerns about the use of violence and intimidation in commercial disputes in Egypt. The court's decision to postpone the trial to October 7 gives the parties involved additional time to prepare their arguments. The outcome of the trial will likely have significant implications for those involved and may set a precedent for similar cases in the future.
Key points
- The Egyptian court postponed the trial of Ismail Dollar and four co-defendants, accused of thuggery and using force in the Mokatm area, to October 7.
- The case involves allegations of coercion and intimidation used to extort money from tenants in a commercial complex.
- Video footage appears to show Ismail Dollar boasting about his influence and threatening those who oppose him.
