Mohamed Al Fayed, the former proprietor of Harrods, faces posthumous accusations of sexual misconduct from numerous women who were employed at the renowned department store. A BBC documentary titled "Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods" has brought these allegations to light, detailing a pattern of abuse that allegedly occurred from the late 1980s to the 2000s.
According to the documentary, five women claim they were raped by the billionaire, while an additional 20 allege sexual assault. The incidents reportedly took place in various locations, including Harrods offices, Al Fayed's London residence, and during international trips, often at the Ritz hotel in Paris.
The documentary suggests that Al Fayed would routinely inspect the store's sales floors to identify young female employees he found attractive before isolating and allegedly attacking them. Disturbingly, the BBC report claims that Harrods not only failed to intervene but also assisted in concealing allegations against its former owner.
Bruce Drummond, a barrister representing some of the women, described the situation as a "spider's web of corruption and abuse" within the company. One alleged victim, identified as Sophia, who worked as Al Fayed's personal assistant from 1988 to 1991, stated that he attempted to rape her multiple times.
Another woman, referred to as Rachel, recounted a harrowing experience when she was 19. She alleges that Al Fayed assaulted her in his personal apartment after insisting she stay there instead of taking a taxi home following late work hours.
It's worth noting that Al Fayed had faced accusations of inappropriate behavior towards female employees throughout his lifetime. In 2015, a rape allegation against him was investigated by police but did not result in charges.
Al Fayed's background includes a diverse business portfolio. Born in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1929, he began his career selling Coca-Cola on the streets before moving to the UK in the 1970s. He acquired Harrods in 1985 for £615 million and purchased the Ritz hotel in Paris in 1979 for $30 million. He also owned Fulham Football Club from 1997 to 2013.
The businessman gained notoriety following the tragic deaths of his son Dodi and Princess Diana in 1997. For years, he claimed their deaths were the result of a conspiracy orchestrated by the British establishment. However, a six-month inquest in 2007-2008 concluded that the crash was caused by the chauffeur's impaired driving.
In 2010, after 26 years of ownership, Al Fayed sold Harrods to the Qatari royal family for approximately £1.5 billion. He cited issues with pension fund trustees as the reason for the sale.
The current owners of Harrods have expressed their shock at the allegations, emphasizing that the company today is "very different" from the one described in the documentary.
"He was vile. That makes me angry, people shouldn't remember him like that. It's not how he was."
The BBC documentary "Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods" is scheduled to air on BBC Two and is available on BBC iPlayer. Additionally, a five-part podcast series titled "World of Secrets: Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods" can be accessed on BBC Sounds.