Egyptian businessman and proprietor of the Ritz resort, Mohammed Al Fayed, poses with the workers of his resort in Paris, on Monday, June 27, 2016. | Photograph credit score: AP
Greater than 400 alleged victims have thus far contacted the authorized group engaged on a case towards late Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed, accused of sexual abuse and rape, lawyer Dean stated on Thursday (31 October 2024). Armstrong.
A BBC documentary in September revealed that Al Fayed, who died final yr aged 94, sexually abused feminine workers at his London division retailer Harrods, forcing them to bear medical exams and threatening penalties in the event that they tried to complain.
“The magnitude of the abuses perpetrated by Al Fayed and facilitated by these round him, sadly, continues to develop,” Armstrong stated at a information convention in London.
Al Fayed at all times denied related allegations raised by different experiences earlier than his demise. Harrods didn’t instantly reply to a Reuters Request for touch upon lawyer’s feedback.
The shop apologized, stated it was “shocked” by the allegations and launched a course of for any present or former Harrods staff who want to declare compensation.
One other lawyer, Bruce Drummond, stated the greater than 400 claims have been filed by girls from world wide, principally from Britain but in addition from the US, Australia, Malaysia, Spain, South Africa and different nations.
“This, in our view, is abuse on an industrial scale,” Drummond stated, including that the abuse passed off “inside the partitions of Harrods” but in addition at different venues linked to Al Fayed’s enterprise empire, reminiscent of Fulham Soccer. Membership, the Ritz Paris and his property in Surrey.
Among the many victims was the daughter of a former U.S. ambassador to Britain and the daughter of a well known soccer participant, Drummond stated, with out naming names.
The BBC documentary stated Harrods didn’t intervene and assist cowl up allegations of abuse throughout its possession.
Legal professionals have criticized the compensation scheme administered by Harrods, saying a few of the victims don’t really feel snug contacting Harrods straight for compensation as that’s the place the abuse unfolded.
Drummond stated some senior officers from the Al Fayed period nonetheless labored at Harrods.
He Monetary instances Final week it reported that 4 alleged victims had dropped out of Harrods’ compensation scheme resulting from considerations about potential conflicts of curiosity and poor communication.
Allegations of sexual abuse towards Al Fayed had been reported by a number of media shops earlier than the BBC documentary, together with Vainness Truthful in 1995, ITV in 1997 and Channel 4 in 2017. Legal professionals stated in September that most of the girls solely felt capable of communicate publicly within the BBC report. after his demise final yr.
Revealed – October 31, 2024 06:59 pm IST
