Suzan, 31, lived in Rimal Tower’s 1113 apartment in Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai Marina.

Preliminary investigations revealed that she had bought the apartment for Dh2.8 million eight days ago on arrival in Dubai from London.

Khaleej Times says a cousin became suspicious when he called her the last time around 5pm on Monday to take her to the Dubai Driving Institute for a lesson, but did not get any response. He then went to the flat around 10pm and found the door open and Suzan’s blood-spattered body lying inside. Her face was badly mutilated.

He called the police immediately and detectives and forensic experts arrived at the flat. The cousin told the police that on Sunday night Suzan was hale and hearty, but when he called her several times the following day, there was no response.

Some neighbours said she was seen on Sunday night with friends who dropped her home. The police have questioned security guards in the vicinity and taken a few people in custody for interrogation.

Suzan had a longstanding dispute with some people in the UK, Egypt and Lebanon, details of which were not immediately available. Since the start of her career in 1996 after graduating from Al Fan Studio in Beirut, Suzan was beset with domestic strife which involved a break-up from her first husband Ali Manzaz. Despite her problems overshadowing her professional career, she won the talent competition – Studio Al Fan – and became a singing icon for the younger generation. After divorce, she married Lebanese producer Adel Matooq but the second marriage, too, hit the rocks soon. To get away from the cases filed by Adel, the singer travelled secretly to Egypt from Lebanon. Adel was expected to arrive in Dubai last night.

Eight months ago, she disappeared from Egypt and surfaced in the UAE about a month ago. In 2004, Adel had alleged attempts on his life by Suzan with help from others. He suffered injuries when some unknown assailants shot at him outside his office in Beirut. He alleged that an Egyptian businessman with whom Suzan was having an affair, was behind the attack. He refused to divorce Suzan. The matter is in court. -Bahrain Tribunal