CAIRO, Feb 12 (Aswat Masriya) - Egypt’s Public Prosecutor Nabil Sadek referred the defendants in the State Council bribery case to criminal trial on Sunday, according to a statement by the prosecution.

Procurement Manager Gamal al-Labban and other State Council employees have been accused of bribery and detained pending investigation after the Administrative Control Authority found some EGP 24 million and USD 4 million in addition to around 1 million Saudi Riyals in Labban’s home late December.

The former State Council secretary-general Wael Shalaby was also arrested after he submitted his resignation early Jan. as he was accused of involvement in the bribery. Shalaby then died in custody a day following his arrest. According to the prosecution and later confirmed by the Forensic Authority, he had committed suicide.

The defendants were referred to trial after the Supreme State Security Prosecution completed its investigation, according to the statement on Sunday, .

Investigation has revealed that Laban received monetary and non-monetary benefits “as a bribe in exchange for performing his job's duties” and forged official documents, according to the statement.

The public prosecutor had ordered a media gag over the case.