Saturday, Oct 18, 2008
Gulf News
Cairo: On the eve of the commencement of the trail in the high-profile murder case of Lebanese singer Suzanne Tamim, her husband has bequeathed any possible inheritance to charity.
Adel Matouq, an entertainment agent who asserts he was married to the celebrity when she was killed, has said he would donate any share he gets from her inheritance to charitable projects.
"I'll donate any money or inheritance to be approved by the court to me, to orphans, the disabled and sufferers of chronic diseases, as well as for other charitable deeds in Egypt," Matouq said over a telephonic connection during a press conference in Cairo on Friday. His lawyer, Talaat Al Sadat facilitated the press conference.
Matouq, a Lebanese national, denied that Tamim was penniless when she went to Egypt more than three years ago to boost her career as a singer.
"When she left Lebanon for Egypt, she had $676,000 (Dh2,48 million) from me," Matouq added.
His lawyer, an Egyptian MP, said he would demand that the Egyptian government recover $12 million Tamim's allegedly had in a bank account in Switzerland.
"This money was wasted by Hesham Talaat Mustapha on Tamim and must be returned to the Egyptian people," added Al Sadat, a nephew of the late Egyptian president Anwar Al Sadat.
The criminal trial against Mustafa, a leading Egyptian real-estate developer, on charges of involvement in Tamim's murder in Dubai on July 28, is due to start today.
Mohssen Al Sukkri, an ex-police officer, claims that Mustapha paid him $2 million to kill Tamim, with whom the latter allegedly had an affair. Mustafa has denied the charges.
Mustafa (49) is an ex-member of parliament and a senior politician in President Hosni Mubarak's ruling party. Mustapha and Al Sukkri face the death penalty if convicted.
Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.
