You're reading: Mubarak’s top aide held in Egypt corruption probe

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's state news agency says ousted President Hosni Mubarak's top aide has been arrested in the corruption investigations involving officials of the toppled regime.

Former presidential chief of staff Zakariya Azmi is the highest ranking ex-official to be sent to jail since Mubarak stepped down on Feb. 11 in the face of a popular uprising.

The official Middle East News Agency quoted prosecutor Assem al-Gawhari as saying Thursday that Azmi will be held for 15 days while authorities investigate allegations he used his powerful position to amass a fortune.

Egyptian prosecutors have filed charges and handed travel bans and jail time to many former top ranking officials.

Many Egyptians consider the prosecutions one of their revolution’s key achievements.