MOHAMED AL-FAYED was a “monster” whose case involves the “most horrific elements of... Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein,” his alleged victims’ legal team said today.
Five women alleged they had been raped by Mr Al-Fayed, who died last year at the age of 94, with a number of others alleging sexual misconduct.
A press conference, which set out the claims made against the late Harrods owner, heard there was a “systematic failure of corporate responsibility.”
Barrister Dean Armstrong KC said: “And that systematic failure is on the shoulders of Harrods.”
He compared him to Savile because the institution “knew about the behaviour” and to Epstein due to the “procurement system in place to source the women and girls.”
And he highlighted similarities to Weinstein as it involved someone “at the very top of the organisation abusing his power.”
“We will say plainly, Mohamed al-Fayed was a monster,” Mr Armstrong added.
Barrister Bruce Drummond told the press conference that Harrods “must accept responsibility for the damage these women have suffered.
“This is one of the worst cases of corporate sexual exploitation that certainly I, and perhaps the world has ever seen.
“It was absolutely horrific and I can’t stress that word enough.”
United Voices of the World (UVW) union, which represents Harrods workers in cleaning, retail and restaurants, contested claims by the luxury department store that it is “a very different organisation” today.
The union pointed out that Harrods chief executive Michael Ward has been in position since 2005, when Mr Al-Fayed still owned and ran the company.
UVW claims it has written to Harrods to demand an urgent meeting with reps to discuss members’ concerns, but that it has declined because it does not recognise the union.
A UVW member and current Harrods employee said: “Harrods is a company that is rotten to its core, continuing to foster a culture of secrecy and fear.
“The imbalance of power within the company makes it impossible for workers to be sure that any concerns they have will be acknowledged and dealt with accordingly.”
UVW general secretary Petros Elia said: “We are disgusted and outraged to learn about Mohamed Al-Fayed’s predatory, monstrous and criminal acts and we offer our full solidarity to his survivors.”
