By Louis Goss
London: Mohamed al-Fayed’s former personal staff are seeking to sue the tycoon’s estate over sexual abuse they allegedly suffered while working for the billionaire.
Law firm Leigh Day has sent pre-action letters to Fayad’s estate on behalf of two former flight attendants who worked for his luxury air carrier Fayair, and three of the family’s former nannies.
The lawsuits come as Harrods, the Knightsbridge department store Fayed bought in 1985, faces a string of allegations of sexual misconduct by the businessman made by former employees.
Harrods former owner Mohamed al-Fayed, whose son Dodi was killed with Diana, Princess of Wales in Paris in 1997.Credit: Getty Images
The five women claim they suffered “serious sexual abuse, harassment and mistreatment” while working for the Egyptian billionaire between 1995 and 2012.
They allege they also faced verbal abuse and threats when they tried to raise concerns about the mistreatment. All the women, whose cases have not been publicly reported before, have chosen to stay anonymous.
The group is seeking compensation for the alleged abuse, and has called for an independent public inquiry into the business mogul and his brother, Salah al-Fayed, who has also been accused of abuse. Fayed died in 2010.
The Harrods luxury department store in London. Harrods says it has been settling claims of abuse by its former owner.Credit: Bloomberg
Richard Meeran, partner at Leigh Day, said: “We have taken this step on behalf of those of our clients who were abused by Mr Fayed while working for him or his other businesses outside of Harrods.
“Our clients took on roles as professionals and should have been able to expect a safe working environment, instead they were subjected to serious sexual abuse, harassment and mistreatment.”
Fayed, who died in 2023 aged 94, is accused of multiple counts of rape and attempted rape by women who worked at Harrods.
Allegations include claims he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl inside Harrods’ boardroom. Another woman who worked as Fayed’s personal assistant claimed the businessman raped her in his luxury apartment that overlooked London’s Hyde Park.
Meeran said: “Much of the media reporting around Mr Fayed’s decades of depraved and predatory behaviour has centred around his work at Harrods, but it is important that his estate is also made legally accountable for the widespread abuse he perpetrated against those who may never have had dealings with the famous store.”
Women who worked for Fayed’s other ventures, including Fulham Football Club and the Ritz Hotel Paris, have also alleged they were sexually abused by the Egyptian billionaire.
Harrods itself, which is now owned by the Qatar Investment Authority, has said it has received more than 250 claims from former employees who allege they were abused.
The Knightsbridge store has also reportedly increased the maximum amount it is offering in compensation to ex-Harrods staff who were abused by Fayed, from sums of £330,000 ($682,000) to £400,000, Sky News reported on Sunday.
Commenting on the new compensation scheme, a Harrods spokesperson said: “It would be premature for us to comment on the nature and details of a scheme that is currently under consultation.
“We are actively inviting the valuable input from survivors and their legal representatives to establish the final scheme that aims to be survivor-first, trauma-informed, and fair in its approach to compensation. Further updates will be provided once the consultation period is complete.”
Lawyers for Fayed’s estate were contacted for comment.
Fayed was born the son of a school inspector in Alexandria, Egypt in 1929. He started his career selling fizzy drinks on the streets of his home city before branching out to furniture and shipping.
The Egyptian tycoon moved to London in 1964, where he cultivated links to British high society including the royals. His son Dodi Fayed was killed with Diana, Princess of Wales, in a car crash in Paris in 1997.
Fayed acquired Harrods for £615 million in 1985. He sold it to the Qatari royal family for a reported £1.5 billion in 2010.
The Telegraph, London