Mohamed Al Fayed investigation: New intercourse assault declare towards former Harrods boss accused of rapes | EUROtoday

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A brand new intercourse assault declare has been made towards Mohamed Al Fayed after an investigation into the previous Harrods proprietor was printed.

The lady believes police almost arrested him over her allegations simply days earlier than he died in August 2023, she instructed the BBC. More than 20 feminine former workers have spoken to the broadcaster as a part of a particular investigation, coming ahead with allegations of assault and bodily violence, with incidents mentioned to have occurred in London, Paris, St Tropez and Abu Dhabi.

Five girls alleged that they had been raped by Fayed, who died final yr on the age of 94. The BBC has alleged that Harrods not solely did not intervene, however helped cowl up the allegations of abuse.

At a press convention on Friday, a authorized crew concerned within the investigation is predicted to share extra particulars a couple of declare towards the luxurious division retailer for allegedly failing to offer a secure system of labor for its workers.

After the publication of the investigation on Thursday, a girl who the BBC is asking Melanie got here ahead to say she had been subjected to a “sickening” sexual assault by the Egyptian billionaire.

The lady labored at Harrods previous to 2010, and met Fayed at work conferences on two events, earlier than being summoned to his house, it was reported.

Melanie, who described the businessman as a “sleazebag” and “slimy”, mentioned: “He sat down next to me… He had asked that I return a couple of weeks later to stay at the apartments the night before the Harrods sale.

“And he would not really let me leave until I agreed to that. As I stood to leave, that’s when he put his hands on my breast and said some pretty disgusting things. And I was in complete shock. I just turned around and walked out.”

Melanie determined to go to the police in 2023, and mentioned she was later instructed Scotland Yard deliberate to arrest Fayed that yr. But he was too unwell to be questioned, and died in August 2023, the BBC reported.

Another lady who mentioned Fayed raped her when she was a teen branded him a “monster, a sexual predator with no moral compass whatsoever”, who handled Harrods workers as his “playthings”. She added: “We were all so scared. He actively cultivated fear. If he said ‘jump’, employees would ask ‘how high?’.”

Bruce Drummond, who works for a agency representing among the affected girls, mentioned: “The spider’s web of corruption and abuse in this company was unbelievable and very dark.”

Following the brand new allegation, Harrods’ present homeowners mentioned they stood by an announcement issued on Thursday which mentioned they have been “utterly appalled” by the allegations of abuse.

It mentioned Fayed was “intent on abusing his power wherever he operated” and accepted that it had “failed” workers of their lack of response.

The division retailer has additionally arrange a web page on its web site inviting former workers to return ahead if they’ve allegations.

Fayed was born within the Egyptian metropolis of Alexandria and got here to London within the Nineteen Sixties and set about constructing a enterprise empire.

He took management of Harrods in 1985 and later expanded his enterprise pursuits to incorporate the Paris Ritz and Fulham Football Club.

The tycoon was not often out of the newspapers, along with his most public assault on the House of Windsor and the Establishment over the loss of life of his son and inheritor Dodi alongside Diana, Princess of Wales on this planet’s most well-known automotive crash.

Fayed had beforehand been accused of sexually assaulting and groping a number of girls, however a 2015 police investigation didn’t result in any fees.

The assertion from Harrods added: “The Harrods of today is a very different organisation to the one owned and controlled by al-Fayed between 1985 and 2010, it is one that seeks to put the welfare of our employees at the heart of everything we do.

“While we cannot undo the past, we have been determined to do the right thing as an organisation, driven by the values we hold today, while ensuring that such behaviour can never be repeated in the future.”

If you’ve got been affected by something on this article, you possibly can cellphone Rape Crisis’ sexual abuse helpline on 0808 500 2222 or go to their web site for a free on-line chat.