Egypt: Wife Of Mubarak Detained
The wife of toppled Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was arrested on Friday on charges of illegal acquisition of wealth, state media reported. “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,” the official MENA agency said.
“The necessary preparations are underway to move Suzanne Thabet, the wife of former president Hosni Mubarak, from Sharm el-Sheikh hospital (where she was staying with her husband) to Qanater women’s prison,” Mohamed al-Khatib, head of south Sinai security, told MENA.
She will be taken to Cairo by plane “due to the danger of transporting her by road,” he conveyed.
On Friday, the authority also ordered a further 15-day detention of Mubarak after a three-hour interrogation of the former first couple.
During the questioning, Mubarak and his wife had agreed to reveal details of their bank accounts both in and outside of Egypt, MENA said. Mubarak was also questioned about a villa he owns in Sharm el-Sheikh worth 36 million Egyptian pounds (about $6 million) “without counting the cost of the swimming pool,” MENA said.
The former First Lady was interrogated about a luxury villa she owns in Cairo, as well as 20 million pounds (about $3.3 million) held in a bank account, MENA said.
