Egyptian court to hear business tycoon's death appeal in February

Cairo:  An Egyptian court said on Sunday it will start hearing an appeal filed by a business tycoon against his death sentence next February.

On June 25, a Cairo criminal court sentenced Hesham Talat Mustafa, one of Egypt's top real estate developers, to death after finding him guilty of inciting the murder of Lebanese pop singer Suzan Tamim in Dubai in July 2008.

The same court also condemned to death Mohssen Al Sukkari, an ex-policeman, after finding him guilty of slaying Suzan in her apartment upon orders of Hesham after getting $2 million from the latter. The court passed the death sentencing in the high-profile case after 27 hearing sessions held over eight months.

The appeal will be heard by the Court of Cassation, which is Egypt's highest court, on February 4.

Hesham is an ex-MP and a senior politician in President Hosni Mubarak's party. The case, which has generated wide media attention in the Arab world, is cited by opponents in this country of 80 million as a proof of corruption in business and political circles.

Officials in Mubarak's party have vehemently denied covering up irregularities.