CAIRO // The Egyptian billionaire accused of arranging the killing of Suzanne Tamim, the Lebanese singer, had nothing to do with her death, his lawyer said yesterday.
Hisham Talaat Moustafa, 49, is accused of paying US$2 million (Dh7.35m) to Mohsen el Sokari, a former Egyptian police officer, to kill Tamim, his estranged lover. Both men are accused of murder.
Addressing the court yesterday, Farid el Deeb, Mr Moustafa's chief lawyer, claimed that Tamim had been killed by an estate agent hired by another man she had left in London to move to Dubai, 10 days before her death.
The singer, 31, was found dead in her apartment in Jumeirah Beach Residences on July 28 last year.
Mr el Deeb said the man who ordered her killing was a boxer, who once forged a marriage certificate with the singer and wanted to "inherit from her after getting rid of her".
"Mohsen el Sokari didn't commit murder and didn't take part in it," Mr el Deeb told the three-judge panel. "He should be found innocent of the killing accusation."
Mr el Deeb said Mr Moustafa's defence was based on proving the innocence of both the accused, as Mr el Sokari had no personal knowledge or motive, except money, to kill Tamim.
Both defendants have been in custody since August. Their trial started on Oct 18.
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Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Company%20Profile
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
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more from Janine di Giovanni
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
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The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
SPECS
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
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What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
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- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
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How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you