Mohamed Al Fayed, past proprietor of Harrods, labeled as a 'monster' by the attorneys representing his supposed victims.
Over thirty-seven women have accused the late Al-Fayed, who passed away at 94 in 2023, of sexually assaulting them. As reported in London on Friday, attorney Dean Armstrong referred to Al-Fayed as a vile abuser responsible for a comprehensive network of misconduct.
Outlining the legal case against Harrods, Armstrong stated that Al-Fayed was shielded by a flawed system that prevailed within the store.
"This is and was a gross neglect of corporate responsibility, and that negligence falls on Harrods," Armstrong declared.
Armington alleged that Harrods was aware of Al-Fayed's alleged wrongdoings. He further accused the store of demonstrating an appalling disregard for its corporate obligations and failing to ensure a secure work environment.
Armington described the scenario as "appalling," likening it to that of Jeffrey Epstein, the imprisoned pedophile who perished in jail before his federal sex-trafficking trial, and Jimmy Savile, a banned British television personality who was exposed as a serial sexual offender posthumously.
In a passing comment, Armstrong referred to the case as "one of the most horrendous examples of corporate sexual exploitation that I, or possibly the world, have ever encountered."
After issuing an apology to the victims on Thursday, Harrods stated that it was "deeply distraught" by the accusations of misconduct leveled against its former owner Al-Fayed, who controlled the department store from 1985 to 2010.
Harrods acknowledged receiving information about historical claims of sexual abuse perpetrated by Al-Fayed in the previous year. Since then, it has stated, "our top priority has been to settle such claims as swiftly as possible, avoiding protracted legal proceedings for the women involved."
However, it remains unclear if the current owners will be held accountable for the alleged crimes that transpired during Harrods' previous tenure, nor whether they would be obliged to compensate the victims and survivors of abuse.
At the press conference, renowned women's rights lawyer Gloria Allred likened Al-Fayed to a serial sexual predator. Allred elaborated on the accusations against him, detailing incidents of "serial rape, attempted rape, sexual battery, and sexual abuse of minors."
Al-Fayed, a prominent figure in the business and celebrity worlds in Britain, was also connected to the tragic 1997 high-speed automobile collision that claimed the lives of Al Fayed's son, Dodi Fayed, and Princess Diana.
Reported by CNN's Catherine Nicholls.
The world is now aware of the extensive misconduct allegations against the late Al-Fayed, with over thirty-seven women accusing him of sexual assault. The case is described by Armstrong as one of the most horrendous examples of corporate sexual exploitation, affecting not just Harrods but possibly the whole world.
