The administrative prosecution has referred eight workers in the Egyptian Museum to an urgent disciplinary hearing on charges of negligence.

An investigation had revealed grave negligence on part of the eight workers in handling an artifact, namely the mask of king Tutankhamun.

The incorrect handling of the mask had left many scars.

The prosecution accused the workers of acting to cover up their misdeeds by incorrectly lifting the mask that resulted in a broken beard.

They also inaccurately glued the chin back to the mask, the probe revealed. The workers then used sharp tools to remove traces of the glue, leaving scars on the mask, it added.