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Reports have emerged suggesting that Mohamed Fayed allegedly employed a blonde “fixer” to target vulnerable young women. This individual is said to have frequented affluent districts in west London, where she would engage with attractive young women.
According to accounts, the fixer would initially establish a connection by showcasing her wealth. Following this, she would offer introductions to her affluent businessman “friend,” as recounted by a teenager who claimed to have encountered the fixer.
In the aftermath of a BBC documentary broadcast last week, over 100 individuals have reportedly stepped forward with accusations against the former Harrods owner, including five women who allege they were raped by Fayed, who passed away last year at the age of 94.
In response to these allegations, Harrods stated that it is “a very different organisation to the one owned and controlled by Mr. Fayed,” as emphasized by CHRIS RATCLIFFE/BLOOMBERG.
On Sunday, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) revealed that it had opted not to pursue charges against Fayed on two occasions regarding the alleged misconduct. Evidence had been presented to prosecutors in both 2009 and 2015, but they determined there was not “a realistic prospect of conviction.”
The Telegraph previously noted that Fayed was questioned by the Metropolitan Police under caution back in 2008 after a 15-year-old girl reported that he had sexually assaulted her at the London department store.
Sir Keir Starmer, who was the chief prosecutor at the time in 2009, faced criticism for not charging the late billionaire. However, Downing Street clarified that the Prime Minister did not oversee Fayed’s case, with a spokesperson stating it “did not cross his desk.”
The CPS was led by Dame Alison Saunders during the consideration of charges against Fayed in 2015.
‘I was young and naive’
The alleged fixer was reportedly a senior executive at Harrods during this period. One young woman, then 19 years old, claims she met the fixer in 2013, three years after Fayed’s sale of the iconic department store. Following an invitation for cocktails, she was taken to Fayed’s lavish Park Lane penthouse.
Upon arrival, she was escorted via a private lift and offered fruit and champagne, which she declined, fearing it was possibly laced.
According to her account, Fayed confronted her and demanded sexual favors in exchange for a monthly allowance of £2,500, coupled with a designer handbag of her choice from Harrods.
She expressed her feelings of fear and unease during the encounter, stating, “I just felt this fear and sense that it was wrong, but I was young and naive and I thought maybe this is how people get jobs.”
She recounted her immediate emotional reaction upon leaving the penthouse, expressing disbelief that such a proposition had occurred. The fixer is said to have attempted to comfort her, stating, “I’m so sorry you’re upset.”
The young woman noted her confusion, questioning why Fayed would not simply hire escorts, to which the fixer allegedly replied that he preferred intelligent, attractive young women and was particular about not contracting STDs, testing himself weekly through a personal doctor.
‘Call me when you get randy’
Before departing, Fayed reportedly handed her £300 in cash and told her to “Call me when you get randy,” writing his phone number on a piece of paper.
The incident left her in distress, and despite exiting the apartment, she continued to feel anxious about her safety, fearing that someone might forcibly take her away.
Even though Fayed did not directly threaten her, the young woman described feeling intimidated by his reputation and influence.
A lawyer representing 37 of Fayed’s alleged victims mentioned that approximately 100 inquiries had been received since the airing of the BBC documentary titled Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods, which detailed these allegations.
During a press conference, attorney Bruce Drummond noted that the situation was “rapidly evolving and expanding every day.”
The fallout from the documentary included testimonies from more than 20 former female employees of Harrods, who detailed their experiences of assault and violence over a span of 25 years.
Furthermore, it was reported that one woman who accused Fayed of sexual misconduct received a warning from his bodyguard, cautioning her that she could “have an accident.”
After filing a formal complaint with Harrods, she is claimed to have received a note from John Macnamara, a former police officer, suggesting that she retract her statement.
The note included ominous language, highlighting her vulnerabilities as a woman alone in London, stating, “You are a girl alone in London, someone could jump out the bushes at you, or you could have a sudden accident.”
This growing array of allegations has prompted calls for Harrods to acknowledge its responsibility regarding the extensive sexual abuse purportedly perpetrated by Fayed.
Source
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