![]() | This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information.(April 2013) |
Mahmoud Abdel Salam Omar | |
---|---|
Born | 1936or1937(age 88–89) |
Citizenship | Egyptian |
Employer | El-Mex Salines |
Known for | former Chairman of Egypt's Bank of Alexandria and head of the Egyptian Banks Federation |
Title | Chairman |
Criminal charge(s) | 2 counts of sexual assault, consisting of sex abuse and forcible touching [1] [2] |
Children | 4 |
Mahmoud Abdel Salam Omar is an Egyptian businessman. He is the Chairman of El-Mex Salines, an Egyptian salt production company, and was formerly Chairman of Egypt's Bank of Alexandria and head of the Egyptian Banks Federation. [1] [2] [3] [4] In May 2011, he was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a maid in his room at New York City's Pierre Hotel.
Omar is married, and has four children. [2]
Omar was Chairman of the Bank of Alexandria, one of Egypt's largest banks. [1] [5] He is also a former head of the Egyptian Banks Federation, and of the Egyptian American Bank. [6] [7] He is currently the Chairman of El-Mex Salines, an Egyptian salt production company, at which he has worked since 2009. [3] [4] [7] [8]
A 44-year-old maid at the Pierre Hotel on New York City's Upper East Side told authorities that on May 29, 2011, Omar called for room service, asking for a box of tissues to be delivered to his $900-a-night room. [1] [4] She said that when she delivered the tissues to his room, Omar locked his door, grabbed her in a bear hug, and began groping her breasts and kissing her on her neck and lips, squeezed her buttocks, and ground his crotch against her leg. [4] [5] [7] She said that Omar only let her leave after she agreed to give him her phone number, and that she gave him a false one. [2] [4] Police said the maid reported the incident to her supervisor immediately, but that the supervisor told her to report the incident to a hotel security official the following day, and consequently the police weren't notified until the following day. [4] A police spokesman said that detectives found the maid to be credible. [8] [9]
Omar was arrested on May 30, 2011. He was charged with two counts of sexual assault, consisting of sex abuse and forcible touching. [1] [2] He appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court, spent four days behind bars, and was released from Rikers Island on June 3, 2011, after posting a $25,000 cash bail and surrendering his passport as he awaited trial. [10] [2] [3] [7] His lawyer initially said he denied the charges. [5] The maid sued him for $5 million. [10] Salam Omar later pleaded guilty to the charges, admitting he kissed the maid on her lips and neck and touched her breasts. [11] [10] In June 2011, he had done five days of community service in a soup kitchen, and was promised his case would be closed if he stayed out of trouble for a year. [12]