LONDON, United Kingdom — The late Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed sexually abused female staff at his London department store Harrods, forced them to have medical screenings, and threatened consequences if they tried to complain, lawyers for alleged victims said on Friday. One woman who had worked for Fayed at the luxury Knightsbridge store called him “a monster”. Harrods apologized on Thursday after more than 20 women told the BBC Al Fayed had sexually abused and in some cases raped them.
He died last year aged 94. “Underneath Harrods glitz and glamour was a toxic, unsafe, and abusive environment,” lawyer Gloria Allred told a press conference. She said the allegations included serial rape, attempted rape, sexual battery, and sexual abuse of minors, perpetrated over 25 years.
Another lawyer, Dean Armstrong, said they were representing 37 women and that number would likely grow. Natacha is one of them. “Seeing his obituary just over a year ago triggered such a huge emotion,” she told reporters, without giving her last name.
“I could not believe that this monster had gotten away with his crime.” According to a BBC documentary that aired on Thursday, Harrods failed to intervene and helped to cover up abuse allegations during Al Fayed’s ownership between 1985 and 2010. He always denied the accusations.
Lawyer Maria Mulla said once female employees were selected for jobs like secretary or private assistant, they would undergo medical examinations, such as.