Egyptian tycoon to die for pop star’s murder

A CAIRO court sentenced to death an Egyptian tycoon and an ex-cop hitman for the murder last year of the businessman’s former lover, Lebanese pop star Suzanne Tamim.

The judge ordered Hisham Talaat Mustafa and retired policeman Mohsen al-Sukkari hanged for respectively ordering and carrying out the brutal slaying of the singer in a luxury Dubai apartment in July.

Mustafa, a stalwart of Egypt’s ruling National Democratic Party, was found guilty of paying Sukkari $2 million (€1.6m) to cut the throat of Tamim, 30, at the Dubai flat she bought months before.

His personal wealth is understood to top $800m.

Chaos erupted in the packed courtroom after the judge read the verdict and ordered the men’s sentences referred to the mufti for confirmation.

The accused’s family members wept, and some of Mustafa’s entourage grappled with photographers and cameramen who rushed to the cages where the two men were held after the judge read out the verdict. Mustafa’s wife fainted.

The case with its mix of wealth, show business and politics has gripped Egypt, where powerful businessmen are rarely seen to face justice.

Mustafa ordered the killing after Tamim, who had previously married two men in the music business, tied the knot with Iraqi kick-boxing champion Riyad al-Azzawi, whom she met at London’s Harrods store.

Media reports have said he had offered Tamim $50m (36.3m) to marry him, but was turned down.