Cairo's criminal court struck down public prosecution pleas to halt the release of former Information Minister Anas al-Feky on Thursday after the Cassation Court decided to retry him on charges of squandering public funds belonging to state television.

The court insisted that its verdict to release Feky is due to him exceeding the legal detention period of 18 months while his attorney confirmed that he has been detained for 22.

The court also struck down public prosecution pleas to halt the release of Mubarak-era upper house speaker Safwat al-Sherif who has also exceeded the legal detention period.

Sherif who was acquitted from charges of complicity in deadly clashes dubbed as "Battle of the Camel" was charged of illicit profiteering in October of this year.

His attorney has insisted that the top Mubarak aide has been detained pending investigations in charges of illicit profiteering since April of last year and never for the other case.