Mahmoud Abdel Salam Omar—the 75-year-old former chairman of Egypt’s Bank of Alexandria who pleaded guilty last year to a misdemeanor charge of sexually abusing a maid at the Pierre hotel—got some bad news yesterday when a judge recommend he pay the maid $350,000 for her troubles.
According to his victim, on May 29th Omar called for tissues to be brought to his room at the $900-a-night hotel. When the maid arrived with his request, she says he grabbed her in a bear hug, kissed her lips and neck, squeezed her breasts and rubbed his crotch against her.
According to Manhattan federal Magistrate Judge Michael Dolinger, Omar "not only demonstrated utter disregard for his victim’s right to be left alone, but he committed an admittedly criminal act," and as such the judge suggested he be slapped with $250,000 in compensatory damages and another $100,000 in punitive damages for his behavior, which occurred just after Dominique Strauss Kahn was arrested for his own hotel troubles.
In fact, former IMF-head DSK was brought up by the judge, who pointed out that it was “difficult to reject” the idea that, coming so close after that high-profile incident, Omar's behavior at the Pierre “was somewhat influenced by that story to believe that he might have some freedom to indulge his tastes.”
Omar’s conduct, the judge went on, "was directed at someone whom he undoubtedly perceived as vulnerable and hence perhaps compliant to his wishes or at least fearful of complaining," Dolinger wrote. Omar and his victim's lawyer have 14 days to object to the judge's report and recommendation.
