LONDON, United Kingdom — Hisham Talaat Moustafa, a prominent Egyptian real estate mogul, successfully defended against a lawsuit in London, where a former kickboxing champion accused him of orchestrating the murder of a Lebanese pop star in 2008. The ruling marks a significant moment in a case that has drawn considerable public interest due to its high-profile nature and complex legal background.
Talaat Moustafa, who leads the Talaat Moustafa Group, was previously convicted in Egypt for his role in the murder of Suzanne Tamim, who was 30 at the time of her death. The incident took place in her upscale apartment in Dubai. Initially sentenced to death in 2009, his conviction faced multiple legal challenges, resulting in a 15-year prison sentence following retrials. He was granted a pardon by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in 2017.
Tamim became well-known in the Arab world after winning a television talent contest in the 1990s and was involved with Iraqi-British kickboxer Riyadh Al-Azzawi prior to her untimely death. In 2022, Al-Azzawi filed a lawsuit against Talaat Moustafa in London’s High Court, claiming he experienced significant psychological and emotional distress as a result of Tamim’s murder.
In court, Talaat Moustafa’s legal team argued for the case to be dismissed, contending that Al-Azzawi’s lawyers failed to present all relevant evidence when seeking permission to file the lawsuit. They asserted that the matter would be better suited for resolution in Dubai rather than London.
On Friday, Judge Christopher Butcher dismissed the lawsuit, indicating that Al-Azzawi did not adequately disclose whether his case was filed in a timely manner. The judge further stated that Dubai’s courts are distinctly more appropriate for handling such proceedings if the case were to go forward.
Following the ruling, Talaat Moustafa’s legal representatives did not provide immediate comments regarding the decision. Attempts to reach Al-Azzawi’s lawyers for a response were unsuccessful.
This decision concludes another chapter in a lengthy and controversial legal saga revolving around an incident that captivated audiences across the region.
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