Egypt's Appeals Court has referred ousted president Hosni Mubarak's illicit gains charges to another criminal court, after a presiding judge stepped down.

Early Thursday, the judge assigned to hearing an appeal by prosecutors against a decision to release Mubarak on illicit gains charges stepped down citing "embarrassment" over the proceedings. The judge then referred the case to the Appeals Court, which on Thursday referred the case to another criminal court.

No further explanation on why the judge recused himself was offered.

"The court has to look into the case within 48 hours. That is why the case was referred to another criminal court on the same day," a legal source in court explained to Ahram Online. 

Also Thursday, a Cairo court is hearing an appeal by prosecutors against a decision to release former president Mubarak on illicit gains charges.

On Tuesday, North Cairo Misdemeanours Court decided not to renew Mubarak's detention period pending investigations into charges that he made illicit gains during his period in office. Prosecutors appealed the decision.

The 84-year-old former president is facing a separate retrial on charges related to the killing of peaceful protesters during the 18-day 2011 uprising that led to his ouster.