Suzanne Tamim

Suzanne Tamim
سوزان تميم
Born Suzanne Abdel Satar Tamim
(1977-09-23)September 23, 1977
Beirut, Lebanon
Died July 28, 2008(2008-07-28) (aged 30)
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Cause of death Murder
Nationality Lebanese
Occupation Singer

Suzanne Tamim (Arabic: سوزان تميم‎, September 23, 1977 – July 28, 2008) was a Lebanese singer who rose to fame in the Arab world after winning the top prize in the popular Studio El Fan television show in 1996. She was murdered brutally in Dubai in July 2008. She was born and raised in a Sunni Lebanese family.

Biography

Tamim's career was marred by rumours of a troubled private life. News about her divorce from her first husband, Ali Muzannar, flooded the Arab media. Tamim later married Lebanese impresario and producer Adel Matouk, who became her manager. After they divorced, Tamim was thought to have fled from her home in Beirut to Egypt after Matouk filed a series of lawsuits against her, charging her with embezzlement, fraud, slander, and libel. Reports say she disappeared from public view in Cairo, Egypt in 2007 and was thought to be living in Dubai's exclusive Jumeirah district.

Musical career

After winning a Gold Medal on Studio El Fan, she was hailed not only for her beauty but also for a voice that was equally suited to pop tunes and classical Arabic melodies. Tamim's last album was produced in 2002 by Rotana and called Saken Alby. It went on to establish sales records. Her last song, "Lovers", recorded in 2006, was dedicated to the memory of slain Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Death

Suzanne Tamim was found murdered in her apartment in Dubai on July 28, 2008.[1][2] Although it was reported that she had been beheaded, the lawyer of her former husband revealed that her death certificate indicates her throat was slit. At the time of her death, she had reportedly been married to Iraqi-born British kickboxing champion Riyadh Al-Azzawi for about 18 months.[3][4]

Murder Trials

On September 2, 2008, prominent Egyptian businessman and lawmaker in the Shura Council Hisham Talaat Moustafa was arrested in Cairo. The son of Egyptian tycoon Talaat Mostafa, Hisham Moustafa was charged with paying a hitman, Mohsen al-Sukkari, to have Tamim killed.[5] On May 21, 2009, Moustafa and al-Sukkari were found guilty of Tamim's murder and sentenced to death by hanging in Cairo.[6][6][7][8][8] An Egyptian court confirmed their sentences on June 25, 2009.[9] However, on March 4, 2010, the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt threw out the convictions and sentences against the two convicts and ordered their retrial on a legal technicality. After the retrial, Moustafa was sentenced to 15 years. His co-defendant, al-Sukkari, had his sentence reduced to life in prison.[8][10] There were reports that Moustafa had escaped from prison during the 2011 Egyptian protests.

Al-Sukkari, the alleged hitman, was a 39-year-old former policeman from Egypt. He was arrested as the alleged murderer in early August in Cairo.[11] Al-Sukkari, whose name was being withheld, was said to have died in police custody soon after his arrest; however, the police subsequently produced him publicly. The alleged killer — who had apparently confessed to the murder - denied any connection to her death. Al-Sukkari was subsequently indicted, along with Moustafa, on charges of murder and for allegedly receiving $2 million from Moustafa for the killing.[12]

Although Egyptian newspapers initially reported freely about the death, once the case was linked to the businessman the Attorney General's office forbade reporting about the case. An edition of a newspaper that defied the order was confiscated.[13] Five Egyptian journalists were also charged with breaching the gag order during the trial.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Agarib, Amira (30 July 2008). "Lebanese singer found dead". Khaleej Times (Galadari Printing and Publishing Co. L.L.C). Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  2. ↑ "Lebanese singer 'killed in Dubai'". BBC New Middle East. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  3. ↑ Riyadh Al-Azzawi exclusive interview with "Sunday Times" about the Suzanne Tamim affair
  4. ↑ "Troubled Lebanese singer murdered in Dubai". Alarabiya. 2008-07-30. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  5. ↑ "Egyptian tycoon Hisham Talaat Moustafa has been arrested and charged over the murder of Lebanese pop star Suzanne Tamim". BBC World News. 09-02-2008. Check date values in: |date= (help) accessed 09-02-2008
  6. 1 2 "Death sentence for Egyptian businessman behind Tamim murder". Arabian Business. 2009-05-21. Retrieved 2009-05-21.
  7. ↑ "Death sentences for Suzanne Tamim murderers". BBC News. 2009-05-21.
  8. 1 2 3 "Egyptian tycoon jailed for murdering Lebanese singer". BBC News. 2010-10-28.
  9. ↑ "Egyptian tycoon, ex-cop face execution". CNN. 2009-06-25. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  10. ↑ Los Angeles Time article
  11. ↑ "Arrest over Lebanese singer death". BBC. 2008-08-10. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  12. ↑ "Egyptian businessman Hesham Talaat Moustafa charged over murder of Suzan Tamim". ArabianBusiness.com. 2008-09-02. Archived from the original on September 6, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  13. ↑ Ulrike Putz (2008-08-20). "Der Tod einer Prinzessin". Der Spiegel (German). accessed 08-20-2008
  14. ↑ "Journalists charged for breaching Tamim murder trial gag". Arabian Business. 2008-11-26. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
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