A Cairo criminal court rejected on Thursday an appeal by prosecutors against a decision to release former president Mubarak on illicit gains charges.

Mubarak will, however, remain in prison as he is detained on other charges.

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

Earlier on Thursday, the judge assigned to hearing the appeal stepped down citing "embarrassment" over the proceedings. The judge referred the case to the Appeals Court, which then referred the case to another criminal court, which rejected the appeal.

No explanation was given as to why the judge recused himself. Mubarak will remain in prison as he is facing corruption charges in two other court cases.

Separately, the 84-year-old former president is also currently facing retrial on charges related to the killing of peaceful protesters during the 2011 revolution that led to his ouster.