In the first hearing, the court announced it was referring the case to the Cairo Court of Appeals so it can be sent to another circuit.

Rateb, who was referred to the criminal court on 12 December, is accused of funding illegal excavations believed to be led by former MP Hassanin, who has also been referred to trial.

Rateb was arrested on 26 January, nearly one week after Hassanin and 17 others were caught in possession of 201 pieces of antiquities in a warehouse in Old Cairo.

The Public Prosecution says that Rateb funded Hassanin, his brother, and the other suspects with millions of pounds to illegally excavate antiquities.

Rateb, 74, the former owner of Al-Mehwar satellite channel, is the chairman of Sinai University, Sama Group, and the Sinai Cement Company.

In 2017, Rateb accused Hassanin of defrauding him of $3 million in commercial transactions, but later withdrew his complaint to the police after Hassanin returned the money, according to local reports.

The unlicensed excavation, theft, damaging, and smuggling of antiquities are punishable by hefty fines and prison sentences of up to 25 years.