Mubarak's wife detained in illicit wealth case

Suzanne Thabet, the wife of ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was on Friday sent to custody for 15 days in connection with charges that she abused her position to make illicit monetary gains, as probe continues into the fortune of the Mubarak family.

The 70-year-old former first lady was questioned on Thursday by Egyptian investigators looking into allegations of illegal acquisition of wealth.

"The head of the Illicit Gains Authority, Assem al-Gohari, has ordered the 15-day detention of Suzanne Thabet pending investigation over accusations she abused her position for the illegal acquisition of wealth," MENA reported.

The Illicit Gains Authority also ordered that Mubarak be detained for another 15 days today. The husband and wife were questioned for three hours in Sharm-el Sheikh on Thursday by officials of the agency that functions under the Justice Ministry.

The 83-year-old Mubarak was first detained on April 13 and has been interrogated by state prosecutors on several charges, including ordering security forces to shoot at peaceful protesters during an uprising against him.

He continues to be under detention in a hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh. Mubarak's two sons -- Alaa and Gamal -- are also in custody over allegations of making illicit gains and were questioned last month.

Their wives Heidi Rasekh and Khadiga al-Gammal were also questioned in the investigation into the Mubarak family's wealth.

Mubarak was ousted in February after an uprising against his regime engulfed the entire country. Since then investigations have been opened against him and his family.