15 May 2011

Mubarak's wife now being held

8:46 am on 15 May 2011

The wife of former president Hosni Mubarak of Egypt has been detained for 15 days as part of an investigation into corruption allegations.

Suzanne Mubarak, 70, was questioned on Thursday and the state news agency Mena said she was being held in prison in Cairo.

The BBC reports she was later moved to an intensive care unit in Sharm el-Sheikh hospital after a suspected heart attack.

Her husband is under arrest at a hospital in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where he is being treated for heart problems.

Mr Mubarak, 83, stepped down in February after 30 years in power. His detention was extended by 15 days early on Friday morning.

The former president, his wife, and their two sons and their wives are banned from travel and have had their assets frozen.

More than 20 ministers and businessmen linked to Mr Mubarak's regime have been detained since his departure from office.

Last week, former interior minister Habib al-Adly was sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of money-laundering and profiteering.