JERUSALEM (JTA) — Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his two sons have been detained for 15 days while the country’s prosecutor general investigates corruption allegations.
Wednesday’s detentions came a day after Mubarak, 82, was hospitalized in Sharm el-Sheik with heart problems, which afflicted him as prosecutors began questioning him over allegations of corruption and abuse of power. He is also being investigated on allegations that he ordered the military to fire on demonstrators. State prosecutors are probing his sons, Alaa and Gamal, on allegations of embezzlement.
The detentions were announced on Egyptian state television and on the Egyptian prosecutor general’s Facebook page.
In a five-minute recording released April 10, Mubarak denied the accusations against him and his family.
Mubarak, the president of Egypt for 30 years, stepped down Feb. 11 and power was transferred to the military’s Supreme Council following popular protests that began in late January. Mubarak has been under house arrest ever since in Sharm el-Sheik, a resort city on the Red Sea. Presidential elections are due in September.
