[JURIST] The former secretary for the political party of ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak [Al Jazeera profile; JURIST news archive] was referred to a criminal court for corruption charges on Wednesday. Safwat El-Sherif is accused of abusing his office [Ahram Online report] and illegally obtaining $49.2 million. He has also been accused of using his position to obtain several pieces of real estate at dramatically discounted prices. El-Sherif’s two sons also face corruption charges, and his wife has been summoned to appear before Egyptian authorities. His wife has not been charged with a crime, but the Egyptian government is seeking the return of any funds from his family that were illegally obtained.

Former associates of Mubarak continue to face charges for their part in his regime. An Egyptian court in July rejected pleas to release [JURIST report] Mubarak’s two sons while they await trial. Gamal and Alaa Mubarak, along with seven others, were charged [JURIST report] with stock market fraud and using unfair trading practices and illegally manipulating the market. Hosni Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison [JURIST report] after an Egyptian court found him guilty of complicity to kill protesters during the Arab Spring protests [JURIST news archive]. During the protests that resulted in the overturning of Mubarak’s 30-year regime, Mubarak ordered government officials to use gunfire and other violent measures to subdue protesters, resulting in more than 850 deaths [JURIST report]. Mubarak’s trial ended in February with the chief prosecutor asking the court in his closing remarks to issue a death sentence [JURIST reports] against the former ruler.