This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(April 2013)
Mahmoud Abdel Salam Omar
Born
1936 or 1937 (age 87–88)
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 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]
Sexual assault charges
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]
