Pierre Hotel Delays Reporting Sexual Assault by Egyptian Businessman to Police

Mahmoud Abdel-Salam Omar, a 74-year-old-businessman from Alexandria, Egypt, has been arrested on charges of allegedly sexually assaulting a housekeeper at The Pierre Hotel in midtown Manhattan on Sunday evening. Omar, the former head of the Bank of Alexandria and now chairman of El-Mex Salines Co, a leading Middle Eastern salt company, has been charged with sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment, forcible touching and harassment. While the alleged assault occurred on Sunday evening, it was not reported to police until Monday morning. Omar was arrested on Monday afternoon at the hotel.

If this incident makes you think of the recent alleged sexual assault of a Sofitel hotel housekeeper by another wealthy foreigner, New York Daily News gives an account that indeed mentions the former head of the International Monetary Fund:

Channeling his inner Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Omar called for room service requesting tissues and answered the door in his pajamas, police sources said.

When the maid – whom he had not specifically asked for – arrived at his 10th-floor room, he asked her to put the box of tissues on a table, sources said. As she moved toward the table, he locked the door.

“He locked her in the room and had her trapped,” a police source said. “He grabbed her breasts, groped her. He was grinding against her.”

Omar then asked the maid for her phone number, a police source said. After she gave him a made-up number he let go, and she fled the room.

According to the New York Daily News the Pierre Hotel housekeeper “immediately reported” the assault to a supervisor but was “told to wait a day to speak to security,” sources said Tuesday. The Wall Street Journal notes that “it wasn’t clear why the incident wasn’t immediately reported to police.”

A friend who tried to visit Omar in the police station and was unable to describes him as “an old man,” a “good man and also a grandfather.”

The Pierre Hotel, which is located at 2 East 61st Street and overlooks Central Park, has issued a statement saying: “We will fully comply with the investigation as requested.” After the alleged sexual attack on the housekeeper by DSK, it’s been reported that hotels are taking more security measures to protect their employees — but are they?

Previous Care2 Coverage

An Anita Hill Moment for France?: Minister Resigns After 2 Women Press Charges of Sexual Assault

Sofitel Hotel Lets Housekeepers Wear Pants After Alleged Attack by DSK

DSK Case: DNA Evidence, Unions, the IMF & Workers’ Rights

Sex and the Abuse of Power: DSK’s Supporters Blame the Victim

Photo of The Pierre Hotel by Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces.Ss2107 at en.wikipedia [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

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Joy J.

3:03PM PDT on Aug 19, 2011

This is disgusting. The hotel should've reported the incident right away.

send a green star

Leia P.

10:49PM PDT on Jun 5, 2011

i hope he gets ousted

jane r.

11:28AM PDT on Jun 2, 2011

Wouldn't want to offend the businessman would we? Besides this would give him time to escape and this hotel ( THE PIERRE) wouldn't have its' name dragged through the mud the way the other hotel(THE SOFITEL) has. Oh the shame!!

Kathy M.

6:34AM PDT on Jun 2, 2011

Don't forget this is an alleged incident. It might well be that the savvy housekeeper is setting up a lawsuit. You just do not know--

Loo S.

6:06AM PDT on Jun 2, 2011

shame on you, disgusting dirty old man Omar !!

Marie W.

10:30PM PDT on Jun 1, 2011

All the dirty old men are described nicely- after all they don't act lewdly towards their friends and family.

Roger N.

9:20PM PDT on Jun 1, 2011

Erasmo J: way to go you ignorant pig, blame the victims. You are vile!

Margaret K.

2:36PM PDT on Jun 1, 2011

It is wrong that the hotel did not report the matter to the police directly. This suggests a lack of care for their employees and more concern for their profit. Is it ok to assault people if you are rich?

Claire M.

2:33PM PDT on Jun 1, 2011

He was probably like What? She didn't come with the room?
Kind of makes you wonder what he is used to.

Jamie C.

1:16PM PDT on Jun 1, 2011

What happened and what did not happen I do not know. Lets leave the investigation and trial up to the judicial system. Innocent until proven guilty. People immediately assume guilt whenever sxual allegations are made. Lets not forget that justice is what makes our country great and that everyone gets a fair trial and a chance to prove themselves.