It's the Mideast version of a soap opera with a Lebanese pop star is brutally murdered in her luxury Dubai apartment. Arrested in her death: One of Egypt's most politically connected businessmen, accused of paying $2 million to have her killed.
The slaying of Suzanne Tamim shows something more serious — a glimpse into the close links between Egypt's government and powerful business tycoons long viewed as above the law.
The 30-year-old singer was found dead in her Dubai apartment in July, with multiple stab wounds and slashed across her throat. This week, Egyptian authorities arrested real estate mogul Hisham Talaat Moustafa, said to be Tamim's former lover.
For many, the surprise wasn't Moustafa's alleged involvement, but his arrest as Egyptians are widely convinced their government won't touch influential businessmen. When Moustafa's name first appeared in media reports weeks ago, he denied a role and complained on Egyptian television that the rumors hurt the economy. The government promptly banned press reports on the murder, suggesting that Moustafa was off-limits.
The tycoon is a top ruling party official is one of Egypt's top billionaires, but there has been growing discontent in Egypt over the clout of businessmen who dominate the government, overshadowing even the military figures who long held the reins of power. Several top businessmen hold Cabinet posts or are on the ruling party's policy committee, headed by Gamal Mubarak, a former investment banker considered the likely successor to his 80-year-old father. Moustafa is a top committee member and also in parliament's upper house.
Hisham Talaat Moustafa was found guilty of paying to kill the singer. The killer Muhsin Sukkari was also sentenced to hang.
I don't quite get this article- is it just expressing shock that this Moustafa was actually sentenced? This does sound like an awfully corrupt government. On the other hand, I think all Western countries like to imagine that big business doesn't have an influence over government- or they at least downplay the true power these corporations have. Interesting article though. Obviously Egypt has a reasonably independant judicairy though, if they felt they could sentence a businessman with such clout!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Fiona. In a country like America where the justice suppose to be perfect, we can see cases like O.J. Simpson.
ReplyDeleteThat man was loaded and knew how the system works and how to deal with it. So he used his wealth to escape from a fair sentence. And there is a lot ofcases like that. Corruption is everywhere so I don't see what this article is looking for.
A brutal killing like this is a bad look for the government when it is caused by someone in power. Therefore I am not surprised he was arrested. If the media was all over it originally, there is no way the government could have escaped publlically denouncing his behaviour with a sentence.
ReplyDeleteThere has to be some form of sentencing to show justice at work. There would be some form of backlash if this wasnt done.Future perpetrators need to know justice will be served.
ReplyDeleteI think the Egyption govt probably did this, as TP said, to show future criminals that they are not above the law, no matter how rich or influential they are. However whether this means all rich and powerful people who commit crimes get brought to justice in Egypt I don't know...
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