Mubarak's wife taken into custody over accusations of financial irregularities

The wife of ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, Suzanne Thabet, has been remanded in custody for 15 days pending investigations into the illegal acquisition of wealth according to the official Mena news agency. 

Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

A statement from the agency said: "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."

A security source says she could be taken to Qanater prison on the outskirts of Cairo.

On Friday, the authority also ordered a further 15-day detention of the former president after a three-hour interrogation of Mubarak and his wife.

It was the first time the Mubaraks had been questioned by this branch of the justice ministry, which is looking into allegations they used their position to acquire wealth illegally.

Mubarak was first detained on 13 April. He is currently in custody in a Sharm el-Sheikh hospital after having reportedly suffered a heart attack when he was first questioned.