Egypt charges four with spying for Israel

CAIRO, Feb 3 (Reuters) Egypt has charged an Egyptian who holds Canadian citizenship and three Israelis with spying for Israel, a state prosecutor said today.

High State Security Prosecutor Hisham Badawi said the Egyptian, Mohamed Essam Ghoneim el-Attar, 31, had been arrested and charged, but the rest of the spy ring were in Turkey and Canada, although arrest warrants had been issued for them.

Badawi said the Israelis had recruited Attar while he was living in Turkey in August. 2001, and had assisted him in obtaining a residency permit in Canada under a fake name and found him work in a bank.

Attar was paid to spy on Egyptians and Arabs during his time in Turkey and Canada, and used his position in the bank to obtain information on specific accounts, Badawi added.

He was also expected to scout and approach potential recruits, according to Badawi, and was paid 56,000 dollar between Aug. 2001 and January. 1 2007, when he was arrested at Cairo airport entering Egypt for a family visit.

Badawi said Attar had been under investigation since Jan. 2002.

Attar would stand trial before a High State Security Emergency court, Badawi added.

REUTERS PDM PM2140