The Egyptian tycoon convicted of ordering the killing of a Lebanese pop star will receive the death sentence, a court confirmed today, as reported by Reuters.
Hesham Talaat Moustafa, who was a member of parliament for the ruling National Democratic Party and formerly chaired a leading Egyptian property firm, was convicted of paying a hitman $2 million to kill Suzanne Tamim, 30, at her apartment in Dubai.
Media reports labelled the attack an act of revenge after she ended their relationship. The death sentence on Moustafa and security man Muhsen el-Sukkari, who killed her, was referred to Ali Gomaa, Egypt's mufti and a religious authority appointed by the state, on 21 May. His approval is sought to confirm a death sentence.
The tale of love, lust, revenge and power has gripped the Arab world. Reuters reports that Egyptians greeted the guilty verdict with shock in May as people with such power and prestige rarely face justice there.
BBC reports that under Islamic law Egypt's religious authorities had to confirm the death sentence.
The tycoon will receive death by hanging, Middle East Online reports.
Since his appointment as mufti in 2003, Sheikh Ali Gomaa has received 480 requests to review death sentences and only refused two of them.
Executions are carried out in secrecy in Egypt, after which a black flag is hoisted over the prison.