Harrods, now owned by Qatar, apologized for abuses of energy beneath Fayed’s management.
Thirty-seven girls have accused the late former Harrods boss Mohamed Fayed of rape and sexual assault, and their legal professionals have mentioned “many extra” girls are anticipated to make civil claims.
At a information convention in London on Friday, legal professionals representing the ladies described the Egyptian businessman, who died final yr aged 94, as a “monster” who abused the ladies and women he employed in the course of the 25 years he owned the property. Premium retailer from 2010 to 2010.
The allegations in opposition to Al Fayed, during which greater than 20 girls declare He dedicated aggression and bodily violence in opposition to others. They’ve properties in London, Paris, Saint-Tropez and Abu Dhabi.
Natacha, one among Fayed’s accusers, advised a information convention that the billionaire was “extremely manipulative” and “preyed on probably the most weak, these of us who must pay our hire and our A few of those that do not must pay hire “haven’t got dad and mom to guard them.”
Harrods, which was offered to the funding arm of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund in 2010, started settling in July 2023 with girls who got here ahead to accuse Fayed of sexual abuse.
The shop’s present homeowners apologized in a press release to the BBC documentary, saying they have been “devastated” by the abuse allegations.
They mentioned: “As a enterprise now we have failed our workers who have been victims and for that we sincerely apologize.”
“Whereas we can’t undo the previous, as a corporation we’re decided to do the precise factor, pushed by the values we maintain in the present day, whereas making certain this habits isn’t repeated sooner or later.”
They mentioned the division retailer was “very totally different” from the group owned and managed by Fayed and described the alleged crimes as “the actions of a person intent on abusing his energy”.
At a media occasion on Friday, lead lawyer Dean Armstrong questioned Harrods’ claims that it knew nothing concerning the allegations till final yr.
“We’re right here to say publicly to the world, or to Harrods in entrance of the world, that it is time for them to take accountability, it is time for them to place issues proper, and that is what they need to do as quickly as potential. It is potential ,” he mentioned.
Lawyer Bruce Drummond mentioned survivors got here from everywhere in the world.
“The complainants got here from Malaysia, Australia, Italy, Romania, america and Canada, and one of many complainants was 16 years outdated when he was allegedly attacked,” he mentioned.
US lawyer Gloria Allred has represented victims in a number of the most infamous intercourse abuse instances lately, together with these involving Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Within the case of Harvey Weinstein, she mentioned many ladies dream of working in “probably the most lovely retailer on the planet.”
“But beneath the glitz and glamor of Harrods lies a poisonous, unsafe and abusive surroundings,” she mentioned.
