Family Pardons Egyptian Hotel Tycoon

The family of murdered Lebanese singer Suzanne Tamim dropped a civil lawsuit against her Egyptian tycoon lover Hisham Talaat Mustafa accused of masterminding her murder in a Dubai hotel. However, a criminal trial in Cairo continues.

Mustafa, former chairman of Talaat Mustafa Group, was granted a retrial in March on grounds of legal errors and the new trial began on April 26.

In his first trial, Mustafa was convicted of paying a former policeman $2 million to kill his then ex-girlfriend, 30-year-old singer Tamim in July 2008. The two men were sentenced to death, but an appeals court ordered a new trial in Cairo citing incorrect legal procedures and insufficient evidence.

The billionaire developer and former member of the Egyptian Parliament was sentenced to death last year in May. The verdict against Mustafa, once a member of the ruling National Democratic Party, spurred a stunning drama that has offered a peek into the closely guarded realm of Egypt’s politicians and businessmen. It shows that even big-time businessmen are no longer above the law.

Mustafa, a luxury hotel and real estate builder, senator and business kingpin was arrested September 2nd, 2008 in Cairo, after he was accused of paying his security guard to kill his Lebanese mistress who he had a three-year relationship. Tamim was found dead July 2008 in her apartment at the Dubai Marina. She was a beautiful pop singer who rose to fame in the Arab world after having won the top prize in the popular talent show on television Studio El Fan in 1996 – the Lebanese version of American Idol.

Hit man Mohsen Al Sukkari, a 39-year-old former policeman from Egypt, was hired for a sum of $2 million from his boss Mustafa. Al Sukkari slashed her throat after pretending to be the home owner’s representative, while entering her apartment. He, too, has been sentenced to death. For Mustafa, the $2 M was no issue to at all.

Mustafa is one of the richest in Egypt being the former chairman of Talaat Mustafa Group, the biggest developer of fine real estate properties in modern-day Egypt. Mustafa owns all three Four Season Hotels in Cairo, Alexandria and Sharm El Sheikh and more.