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Egyptian Man Accused of Groping Pierre Hotel Maid Pleads Guilty

By DNAinfo Staff on June 24, 2011 7:48pm

Mahmoud Abdel-Salam Omar in court Tuesday night.
Mahmoud Abdel-Salam Omar in court Tuesday night.
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James Kelvom/Pool

By Shayna Jacobs

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT — An Egyptian businessman admitted to kissing and groping a maid at the Pierre Hotel against her will.

But in exchange for pleading guilty in Manhattan Criminal Court Friday, Mahmoud Abdel-Salam Omar, 74, will only have to serve five days community service.

Omar was charged with the May 29 attack at the hotel, at 2 E. 61st St., just weeks after French politician Dominique Strauss-Kahn was accused of trying to rape a Sofitel Hotel maid, prompting an international controversy.

Prosecutors said there was not enough evidence to convict Omar of felony sex abuse, which could have landed him in jail for up to seven years.

They also said the deal was entered with the consent of the victim, a 44-year-old maid at the posh hotel, near Fifth Avenue, whose supervisor failed to report the incident immediately.

Charges against Omar were less serious than those against Strauss-Kahn, who faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.