Several people have been arrested in Egypt over an alleged plot by fake judges to defraud citizens of their money, because nothing says 'legitimate justice system' like a costume and a social media account.

Egypt's Ministry of Interior said the scam involved fabricated court scenes and impersonating a judge on social media. The main suspects, an unemployed man and a student residing in Cairo and Giza, have been detained, the ministry said.

Upon questioning, they confessed to forming a criminal gang that took money from citizens by falsely claiming they could allocate housing from government agencies. They also admitted to staging fake court scenes with the help of others, because why get a real job when you can stage a legal drama?

State-owned newspaper al-Ahram reported that several suspects believed to have taken part in the plot were detained and referred for an expedited criminal trial. The plot came to light when authorities investigated a man who claimed he had been defrauded by a man falsely presenting himself as a judge.

The main suspect was then arrested, with police seizing a firearm, a judicial sash, and identity cards bearing his fake judicial title. He also confessed to filming photos and videos inside a courthouse while wearing the sash to boost his credibility, presumably hoping to win an Oscar for Best Actor in a Legal Thriller.

He admitted he was helped by a second suspect, with the help of several court employees. The second suspect confessed to taking part in filming and publishing the images and videos while claiming on social media to be a judge. Court employees were also detained and questioned, claiming the main suspect had told them he worked for one of Egypt's judicial authorities.

The whole affair is a reminder that in Egypt, even justice comes with a side of performance art.