Power play rears its head again
Political connections come to fore in murder case
Cairo: Many had wondered if the 50-year-old real estate mogul tied to President Hosni Mubarak's son, Jamal, and an influential member of the ruling party, would get away with murder in a region where the rich are often thought to be immune.
The court decision to retry the case is certain to raise charges that Hesham Mustafa's influence will keep him from the gallows.
Mustafa was also a member the ruling party's policies committee, which the younger Mubarak chairs. He is the chair of one of the country's main real estate companies, a family ran business, that continues to flourish despite the trial.
Mustafa, seen by close friends as an ambitious businessman, made friends with several Arab business moguls.
In partnership with other Arab conglomerates, the Talat Mustafa Holding Group launched massive schemes in Egypt including the plush Four Seasons Hotel chain and Madinati, a luxury housing scheme being constructed on 33 square kilometres outside Cairo.
Timeline: Suzan Tamim murder case
March 4, 2010
An Egyptian court revoked the death sentence previously handed down to Hesham Talaat Mustafa, an Egyptian business tycoon and Mohssen Al Sukkari, an ex-policeman convicted of killing Lebanese singer Suzan Tamim in Dubai and ordered their retrial.
August 22, 2009
The defence lawyers for Hesham Talaat Mustafa, an Egyptian business tycoon and Mohsen Munir Al Sukari, an ex-policeman, sentenced to death last May for ordering the slaying of Suzan Tamim, a Lebanese singer, appealed against the verdict and requested his re-trial.
June 25, 2009
Egyptian Criminal Court announced that the Grand Mufti (Egypt's top Muslim authority) has ratified the death sentences it passed against Hesham Talaat Moustafa and Mohssen Al Sukkari, an ex-policeman, for killing Suzan Tamim, a Lebanese singer
May 20, 2009
A Cairo criminal court sentenced Hisham Talaat Mustafa and ex-cop Mohsen Munir Al Sukari to death by hanging for the July 2008 murder of Lebanese pop singer Suzanne Tamim.
February 14, 2009
A criminal court in Cairo, Egypt, in a murder trial of Suzan Tamim involving an Egyptian business tycoon, cross-examined a senior policeman from Dubai where the murder was committed.
September 02, 2008
Egyptian police arrested billionarie and business tycoon Hisham Talaat Mustafa for his involvement in this murder case. Ex-cop Mohsen Munir Al Sukari admitted to investigators that Mustafa hired him to kill Tamil for $2 million
August 10, 2008
Dubai police announced the arrest of an Arab man behind the gruesome killing of Lebanese singing sensation Suzan Tamim.
August 4, 2008
Lebanese singer, Suzan Tamim was buried in Beirut. The body of the slain singer was repatriated from Dubai the same morning.
July 28, 2008
Lebanese singer Suzan Tamim found murdered at Jumeirah Beach Residence Rimal Tower 1 in Dubai
