Mahmoud Abdel-Salam Omar to reappear in court to face claims he sexually abused maid in luxury New York hotel
The former head of one of Egypt's biggest banks has been granted bail after being arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a maid at a luxury hotel in New York.
The arrest on Monday of Mahmoud Abdel-Salam Omar came two weeks after then International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn was charged with trying to rape a hotel maid at another luxury Manhattan hotel.
Manhattan criminal court judge Gerald Lebovits granted Omar, 72, bail for $25,000 (£15,000) cash and a $50,000 bond.
Omar is accused of assaulting the maid when she delivered tissues that he requested to his room on Sunday at the Pierre hotel in Upper East Side, Manhattan, a prosecutor told a hearing.
"The defendant grabbed her in a bear hug with his arms around her body," said assistant district attorney Nicole Blumberg. "He kisses her neck and her lips and he repeatedly tells her he likes her."
Omar, a former chairman of the Bank of Alexandria and the Egyptian American Bank, is board chairman of El-Mex Salines Co. His attorney, Liz Beal, a public lawyer, said he would fight the charges.
"My client adamantly denies the charges against him," Beal said. Omar is likely to hire a private attorney before his next court appearance on 3 June.
The assault was reported to police on Monday morning. Omar was charged with sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment, forcible touching and harassment.
Prosecutors said he grabbed the maid's breasts and buttocks and rubbed his groin against her legs. Omar and the maid were fully clothed during the alleged encounter, prosecutors said.
Strauss-Kahn, who is under house arrest in New York, has denied charges of a criminal sexual act, attempted rape, sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment and forcible touching.