By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — An Egyptian businessman charged with sexually assaulting a Pierre Hotel maid waived his right to a speedy trial on Friday to buy time for further investigation.
Mahmoud Abdel-Salam Omar, 72, has not yet been indicted because his attorney, Lori Cohen, allowed the District Attorney more time to investigate claims against him, prosecutors said at a brief court appearance Friday.
The hearing came hours after he was released from Rikers Island on $25,000 bail.
Cohen said he was not able to immediately post bail after his Tuesday arraignment because accessing his overseas assets took time.
Normally a defendant accused of felonies must be indicted within five days of his or her arrest. Defenders sometimes allow an extension, hoping further investigation will exonerate their clients.
Omar, a former banker, allegedly trapped a maid in his swanky hotel room after summoning her with a request for tissues. He then "squeezed her breast over her clothing" and "ground his groin against her leg," prosecutors said.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office said they would "continue to investigate" the case, Assistant District Attorney Francesca Liquori said.
Allegations against Omar came just two weeks after the former head of the International Monetary Fund was charged with attacking a maid at the Sofitel Hotel. Dominique Strauss-Kahn is free on bail, serving house arrest in a TriBeCa townhouse while awaiting trial.
Omar's case was adjourned to Aug. 23.
