Egypt prosecution extends detention of Mubarak sons for another 15 days

Egypt’s prosecution has extended the remand for Alaa and Gamal, sons of former President Hosni Mubarak by another 15 days, Al Arabiya’s correspondent in Cairo said on Monday.

This is the second time the sons’ detention has been extended.

Alaa and Gamal, along with their father, were detained on April 13 on charges of corruption and to determine their involvement in the shootings of protestors during the uprising in January that led to the ouster of Mr. Mubarak from the Egyptian presidency after more than 30 years in office.

They are also being investigated on charges of profiteering from gas exports to Israel at a low price in a secretive deal that is said to have cost the country $714 million.

Investigators have questioned the sons at Torah Prison, in a suburb of Cairo, where they are currently detained.

The 82-year-old former president is still being treated in a hospital in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh with plans to transfer him to a military hospital “as soon as his health condition stabilizes,” said Interior Minister Mansour Al Essawy in a letter to the public prosecutor.

Mr. Mubarak suffers a heart condition that requires intensive care, according to the letter.

On April 15, Egyptian media reported that Mr. Mubarak could face the death penalty if the probe proves him guilty of ordering the violence against protesters. But few people expect that he will be put to death, even if he were to be found guilty.

He was detained after former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly stated that Mr. Mubarak himself ordered the use of violence.

Mr. Mubarak’s trial may take at least a year, said Zakaria Shalash, head of Cairo’s appeals court in an interview with the Egyptian newspaper Al Ahram.

Dina Al-Shibeeb of Al Arabiya can be reached at: [e-mail]