Court overturns death sentence against tycoon

Cairo: A ruling by a Cairo court yesterday overturning the death sentence against an Egyptian tycoon means there is a possibility that Hesham Tala'at Mustafa will escape the gallows.

The Court of Cassation, Egypt's highest judicial authority, revoked a death sentence against Mustafa, a senior politician in the ruling party, and Mohsin Al Sukkari, a former policeman, who were both earlier convicted of killing Lebanese singer Suzan Tamim in Dubai.

"The court found procedural errors in the ruling passed last May," said Chief Judge of the court Adel Abdul Hamid in the eagerly awaited ruling.

Last May, the Criminal Court sentenced Mustafa to death, saying he had ordered Al Sukkari to kill Suzan, with whom the former had a failed love affair, for $2 million (Dh7.34 million). The same court also sentenced Al Sukkari, 45, to death.

On hearing yesterday's ruling, relatives of the two convicts burst into tears in jubilation as they chanted: "Long live justice".

‘Fair justice system'

"The Egyptian judicial system is proving time and again that it is fair," said Mounir Al Sukkari, the father of Mohsin. "I am confident of my son's innocence because he did not commit this crime," he added in a quivering voice.

Neither Mustafa, 50, nor Al Sukkari, 45, were in court yesterday.

They will remain in prison until a new date is set for the retrial in two months' time, according to judicial sources.

Both have already pleaded innocent during their trial.

The case has generated massive interest across the Arab world since the summer of 2008.

The trial of Mustafa, a leading member of President Hosni Mubarak's party, put pro-government businessmen and politicians in the spotlight on accusations of abusing their power and wealth.

Under the Egyptian justice system, Mustafa and Al Sukkari will be retried at a different criminal court from the one that found them guilty last May.

While they are in prison they will be allowed to take off the red uniforms usually worn by people on death row in Egypt.