Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was ordered detained for 15 days on Wednesday, winning the ruling army generals a respite from protests by quashing suspicions that they were shielding their former commander from investigation.
Mubarak, driven from his office on February 11 by mass protests against his 30-year rule, was admitted to hospital on Tuesday, suffering what state media called a “heart crisis”. Reports conflicted on seriousness of his illness.
The public prosecutor had summoned and questioned Mubarak over the killing of protesters, embezzling of public funds and abuse of power. More than 380 protesters were killed in 18-days of demonstrations that led to Mubarak’s downfall.
“Former President Hosni Mubarak was detained for 15 days for investigation,” state television reported. It said his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, have also been questioned as part of the probe and ordered detained.
In his first public comment since stepping down, broadcast on Al Arabiya on Sunday, Mubarak denied wrongdoing.
An army helicopter landed near Mubarak’s hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday to take the former president to Cairo, Al Jazeera reported. One security source told Reuters that Mubarak could be moved to Cairo or the outskirts to assist the probe.
{{/usCountry}}An army helicopter landed near Mubarak’s hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday to take the former president to Cairo, Al Jazeera reported. One security source told Reuters that Mubarak could be moved to Cairo or the outskirts to assist the probe.
{{/usCountry}}There was no official confirmation.
A source said Mubarak’s sons were taken to a prison on the outskirts of Cairo, joining a list of ex-ministers and officials under investigation and held in the same jail.