By Nina Mandell
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Park51 developer Sharif El-Gamal had seven, mostly minor, run-ins with the law in his past, according to the Daily News.
"I regret many things that I did in my youth. I have not always led a perfect life," he said in a statement to the News.
The most recent incident was in 2005 when El-Gamal allegedly assaulted a tenant of one of his Manhattan apartments while attempting to collect back rent.
The former tenant, Mark Vassiliev, alleged that El-Gamal punched him the face during a heated argument. El-Gamal was charged with misdemeanor assault and harassment, but those charges were later dropped when Vassiliev sued and was awarded $15,000, the News reported.
El-Gamal is the developer behind the Park51 project that plans to build at 13-story, $100 million mosque at community center at 45-47 Park Place, just a few blocks away from Ground Zero
El-Gamal's police record unearthed by the paper's investigation also included five disorderly conduct charges from the '90s. El-Gamal admitted he had a troubled youth and said he turned to Islam following the 9/11 attacks.
"My faith teaches me every day about humility. I have been humbled by my imperfections. But my faith also teaches me about forgiveness," he said in the statement to the News.
"While I might not be proud of some of my actions in the past, I am extremely proud of the Park51 project and what it will mean to thousands of New Yorkers of all faiths and denominations who live in Lower Manhattan."
