Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak will be put on trial and he face criminal charges relating to the deaths of unarmed protesters during the pro-democracy uprising early this year that ended the 30-year dictatorship.

There were reports that he could be given the death penalty if convicted of ordering the killing of anti-government protesters during the popular uprising.

Egypt's chief prosecutor, who was appointed by Mubarak, also ordered the trial of his two sons. Mubarak will face charges of opening fire on protesters and killing them. The Boston Globe said a Cairo criminal court is expected to set a trial date within days.

It was also reported that the public prosecutor had ordered Mubarak to be transferred to a hospital in Cairo's Tora prison.
“Certainly, if convicted for killing protesters, it could result in the death sentence,” Egypt's new Justice Minister Mohammed el-Guindi had told Al-Ahram daily on May 2.

It is believed that the former first family could have stashed away billions of dollars of corruption money it amassed in three decades of power.
There were reports last week that Mubarak's wife reportedly relinquished some of the family's assets as Egypt's anti-corruption investigation turned the heat on the former first family. The Washington Post reported that Suzanne Mubarak gave authorities the power of attorney to withdraw up to $3.4 million from two bank accounts.

Apart from criminal charges, Mubarak will also face serious corruption charges, especially the one relating to his Sharm el-Sheik villa. It has been alleged that he got it as kickback from a tainted land deal.

There were reports last week that Mubarak would apologize to the nation and plead for amnesty, even as prosecutors tightened the noose around the 82-year old former dictator and his family.

Meanwhile, there are reports that the leaders of the pro-democracy movement have called for a Friday protest to demand more stringent measures against the former dictator and his family. They have been calling for faster prosecution of Mubarak; a demand which was tough for the Military Council to accept. The Military Council, which is running the country, is headed by the Mubarak's former defense minister.

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