Egyptian authorities arrested a person accused of breaking into a private garage in the Attarin district of Alexandria Governorate (northern Egypt) and dismantling an antique car that its owner said belonged to the late President Gamal Abdel Nasser, according to local media.

The incident dates back to a report received by security authorities in Alexandria Governorate due to hearing noise in one of the garages in the Attarin area. Residents reported the noise as annoying and suspicious. By tracing the report and reaching the aforementioned residence, the suspect was found.

Investigations into the incident showed that the car is a 1961 Cadillac model, owned by former President Gamal Abdel Nasser, and was purchased by a businessman at a public auction and kept in a private garage as a rare historical artifact.

The suspect repeatedly visited the garage through an open skylight in the 'light well' between the two properties where the car was located for three months, according to local media citing investigative authorities, and would cut parts of the car and sell them as scrap. He justified his actions by his need for money and his lack of knowledge of the car's historical value.

A report was filed on the incident, and the suspect was referred to the prosecution for investigation. It was decided to detain him for four days pending investigation on charges of stealing and dismantling an old car.

According to legal expert Mabrouk Hassan, theft crimes under Egyptian law are misdemeanors in which the defendant, if convicted, is sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 24 hours to 3 years. He added to Asharq Al-Awsat: 'The punishment is imprisonment, not jail, because it is a misdemeanor, not a felony. But determining the penalty is left to the judge's discretion, not the type of stolen items.'

Regarding whether the type of stolen items leads to a harsher penalty, he said: 'This is up to the judge's discretion, but in the law itself, the penalty is not based on the type of stolen items, but rather on the method of theft—whether it was at night, by stealth, or by force, for example.'

A collection of cameras belonging to the late leader Gamal Abdel Nasser (Museum of Leader Gamal Abdel Nasser)

According to several references, the late President Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-1970) owned more than one car before and during his presidency. Among the cars he owned was an 'Austin 8' before he took power in 1956. He also owned a four-door 'Nasr 1100' car manufactured by the Egyptian General Organization for Engineering Industries. He also owned a 1965 model 'Cadillac Fleetwood,' which was common among kings and presidents in the 1960s.

The Museum of Leader Gamal Abdel Nasser still houses his personal belongings and many of his home furnishings, tools, and movables that Abdel Nasser kept, including the chess set he loved to play, a table tennis racket (a game he also enjoyed), and a collection of cameras used by the late leader. In addition to the leader's personal possessions represented in some of the medals, decorations, and personal gifts.

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