Harrods investigating if current staff involved in Fayed allegations
- Published
Harrods has revealed that it is investigating whether any current members of staff were involved in any of the allegations against the store's former owner, Mohamed Al Fayed.
One former Harrods employee, known as Jessica, has told BBC News a manager, who still works at the store, failed to investigate when she complained about Fayed's inappropriate behaviour.
Jessica alleges she was pushed against a wall and sexually assaulted by Fayed in 2008, when she was 22.
The store says there is an ongoing internal review which includes "looking at whether any current staff were involved in any of the allegations either directly or indirectly".
It also says it is in direct communication with the Metropolitan Police.
Fayed, who died last year aged 94, is accused of multiple rapes and sexual assaults by several women who worked for him - many of whom felt unable to report what had happened until recently.
They made the claims in the BBC documentary and podcast Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods. Dozens more women have been in touch since the programme aired last week.
Jessica, not her real name, said after she was sexually assaulted she went to HR to complain and to hand her notice in.
She said she felt too intimidated by Fayed to detail the sexual assault in the meeting, but she did complain about his inappropriate behaviour, including him giving her large sums of money.
She said she was left in no doubt the people in the meeting knew there was a sexual element to her complaint.
And she told the BBC one of the people in the room still worked at Harrods in a senior role.
She said she felt threatened and forced to sign a document that she believes was a non-disclosure agreement by "multiple people in the room".
"There was no shock, no empathy... and it was made very clear they were not going to talk further on the topic," she said.
Jessica is considering taking legal action but had never spoken about her experiences until the BBC documentary about Fayed was aired last week.
"I feel quite strongly that the people who facilitated this need to be brought to justice," she said.
"And that is part of the reason why I am now speaking out about it.
"Those people I can see are still working either within the company or in other companies.
"I have no doubt they have to have been fully aware of what was happening."
She added: "Yes obviously [Fayed] is gone, but his name can still be tarnished for what he did to all of these people. So I do feel like a certain amount of justice can be brought."
In separate claims, Jessica said another manager at Harrods "cherry-picked" young girls for Fayed and "facilitated" his predatory behaviour towards them.
Jessica said she was "pimped" by the female manager, who she said felt Fayed would be attracted to her, and organised for him to meet her.
She said: "It's quite clear to see the actions that happened to put me in front of him came directly from her."
Harrods' current owners have previously said they were "utterly appalled" by the allegations against Fayed and had been seeking to settle claims "in the quickest way possible" since "new information came to light" in 2023.
When BBC News put Jessica's story to Harrods, the store confirmed there was an ongoing internal review which also began in 2023.
"The Harrods settlement process was designed in consultation with independent external counsel and experts in personal injury litigation," the statement said.
"All claims settled to date and moving forwards will be based on the guidance of these external individuals to ensure swift and impartial outcomes for the victims.
"As part of our due diligence there is an ongoing internal review (supported by external counsel) including looking at whether any current staff were involved in any of the allegations either directly or indirectly.
"In addition, the Harrods board has established a non-executive committee of the board to further consider the issues arising from the allegations.
"Harrods is also in direct communication with the Metropolitan Police to ensure we are offering our assistance with any of their relevant inquiries."
A BBC investigation into allegations of rape and attempted rape by Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of Harrods. Did the luxury store protect a billionaire predator?
Listen to World of Secrets, Season 4: Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods on BBC Sounds. If you’re outside the UK, you can listen wherever you get your podcasts, external.
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