Yahoo news in New York has reported that a businessman traveling from Egypt has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor sexual abuse involving a maid that claimed only to have entered the man's hotel room to deliver tissues, not sex.
In a Manhattan court on June 24, M.A.S.Q. admitted that the woman did not agree to his advances that included kissing her on the lips, neck and touching her breasts.
The maid, 44, is allegedly suing M.A.S.Q., 74, for $5 million due to the incident.
M.A.S.Q. has worked five days in a soup kitchen for his community service and, if he avoids any further trouble, he will not face jail time or probation. His case will be closed.
Earlier in June, M.A.S.Q. was jailed for an approximate 4-day period before being released on bail.
M.A.S.Q. answered "yes" in English to questions put to him by the judge and prosecutor. He claimed that the woman, though she didn't consent to his advances, seemed agreeable.
Lori Cohen, M.A.S.Q.'s attorney, said that it was a "big miscommunication" that led to the charges. Cohen said, "I believe he thought something was happening that wasn't.
I think his lack of a great understanding of English, and her desire to file a multimillion-dollar lawsuit, led to these accusations."
At this statement, John P. Grill, the maid's attorney, retorted, "That's just not true, she didn't know who he was."
M.A.S.Q., a former bank chairman, was in New York to receive an industry-based award.
The original charge against M.A.S.Q., one of felony sexual abuse, carried up to a seven-year prison sentence. Prosecutors, however, decided that after viewing surveillance videos, looking over forensic evidence and interviewing witnesses that what had occurred "did not rise to the level of forcible compulsion."
Per Nicole Blumberg, the Manhattan assistant district attorney, they couldn't prove that "forcible compulsion" took place.
In regards to the plea deal Grill said, "It doesn't change what happened."
M.A.S.Q. was served a copy of the woman's federal assault and false-imprisonment lawsuit - that added allegations that he also rubbed his groin against her legs and groped her buttocks - which was filed on June 24.
The lawsuit, per Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, will be difficult to prosecute because the maid's supervisor waited a day to report the incident to the hotel's security director - though the maid reported it the same day it occurred.
The security director alerted the police.
The hotel responded by suspending the security director and promising to purchase "panic buttons" for the maids.
A "panic button" will message managers the moment a maid uses it to alert them of an attack by a guest.
M.A.S.Q. has served as the chairman of several Egyptian banking institutions. He wanted to avoid a trial to get home to his wife.
If you have been charged with a crime, and understanding the English language may or may not have been a component, contact a criminal defense attorney for help. Getting yourself understood correctly in a court, which can be accomplished with the proper defense, will help your case tremendously.
