Woman found dead in Beirut hotel room

Police in Beirut are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a young woman whose body was discovered in the room of a hotel opposite Sidon’s Sea Castle, last week.

According to preliminary investigations, the woman was identified as Zeina Nasour, 36, while the forensics report revealed that the time of death was 18 hours before the body was discovered, local newspaper The Daily Star reported.

The report said that the cause of death was a poisonous substance, traces of which were found inside the room, which Nasour might have taken in a direct or indirect manner.

Police said that Nasour arrived from Antelias Monday morning to one of the hotels in the southern coastal city and ordered a nargileh, after which she checked in under an alias.

Nasour had been driving her car, which she parked facing the hotel, but it is unknown whether she had come with or was waiting for someone.

According to sources, the prosecutor general in the south ordered further investigations in order to uncover the details of the case and to determine whether she was murdered.

Sources also said that during their investigation, the police found irregularities in the behavior of hotel management, such as their neglect in checking Nasour’s identification papers before giving her a room and their delay in reporting the discovery of the body.

Detectives also attempted to watch the hotel’s surveillance videos to check whether Nasour was in the company of someone, but were surprised to find that the cameras do not actually record. Investigations into the case are ongoing.