CAIRO, March 25 - RAPSI. Egyptian Justice Minister Ahmed Mekki on Monday expressed doubt that ousted leader Hosni Mubarak will be released in April after his pretrial detention period ends. He may face new charges, the minister said.

"The former president's pretrial detention term expires on April 16, and he would naturally be released unless some new charges are brought against him," he told the "90 Minutes" show on the Mehwar TV channel. "However, I have heard that he will be accused of further crimes."

Analysts contacted by RIA Novosti maintain that Mubarak may face corruption charges. In early March, an administrative court audit committee accused Mubarak and his sons of misappropriating over 1 billion Egyptian pounds (more than $150 million).

According to the information provided, they participated in a corruption scheme for years. Instead of spending government funds allocated for maintaining and repairing the presidential residence for their designated purpose, they transferred the funds to personal accounts and submitted fake reports to the supervising authorities. Mubarak and his family used the funds to buy and to develop property.

Mubarak, 84, was overthrown in February 2011 after an 18-day popular uprising. He was sentenced in June 2012 to life imprisonment by an Egyptian court "for failure to stop the killing of protesters by the Egyptian security forces during the revolt."

Over 800 people were killed and 6,000 injured during the revolt.