Egyptian prosecutors on Tuesday charged a construction tycoon and stalwart of the governing party with hiring a man to kill the Lebanese singer Suzanne Tamim, who was stabbed to death in her apartment in Dubai in July.

After weeks of rumours that threatened the credibility of the government and the ruling National Democratic party, Hesham Talaat Moustafa has been formally accused of paying $2m (€1.4m) to Mounir El Sok-kari, a hotel security officer, to kill the young singer.