LONDON — A prominent lawyer who successfully represented victims of a notorious black cab rapist is now focusing on the case against Mohamed Al Fayed, the late Egyptian businessman accused by numerous women of sexual misconduct. Phillippa Kaufmann KC is part of a legal team scrutinizing the police’s response to allegations against Fayed, especially regarding their duty to investigate such claims thoroughly.
Following the release of the BBC documentary “Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods,” over 100 women have approached law firms, including those who allege they were raped by Fayed during his tenure as the owner of the luxury department store Harrods. These new allegations have renewed interest in whether there were failings in police investigations related to Fayed over the years.
Emma Jones, a partner at Leigh Day, suggests that the volume and nature of the claims could necessitate a public inquiry to determine if some allegations were improperly dismissed or ignored. This inquiry could address concerns about historical oversights and the apparent disregard of multiple complaints against Fayed.
Fayed was accused multiple times of sexual harassment and assault from as early as 1995, raising questions about the adequacy of law enforcement’s response. Notably, a 1995 Vanity Fair article and a 1997 ITV program, “The Big Story,” brought several allegations to light, yet no significant legal actions ensued. Further, a 2009 decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not to prosecute Fayed after allegations he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old at Harrods brought additional scrutiny, followed by another fruitless investigation in 2015.
Jones highlighted the importance of considering what police should have reasonably known given the recurrence of allegations and their severity. These elements suggest a pattern that might have been conspicuously overlooked, raising critical questions about the awareness and actions of law enforcement.
The team encourages women to come forward with their accounts, even if they choose not to pursue legal action, to aid the ongoing investigations and possibly substantiate a pattern of behavior that was ignored. Dean Armstrong KC, representing some of the complainants, stated that the burgeoning number of women who have come forward highlights an “enormous shame” regarding the delayed public discourse about Fayed’s behavior, which only gained momentum after his death in 2022 at age 94.
Former British home secretary Jack Straw, who denied Fayed British citizenship in 1999 citing a “general defect in his character,” recently described Fayed as “a bully.” This statement coincides with reports from Gaute Haugenes, former manager of Fulham football club’s women’s team, who recalled protective measures taken against Fayed’s known preferences for young, blonde females.
The recent public acknowledgments and the historical accounts from sources like Jack Straw and institutions like Fulham Football Club lend weight to the argument for a public inquiry. Armstrong asserts that these developments, alongside the previous failure to prosecute, merit a thorough reexamination, suggesting systemic failures that allowed predatory behavior “in probably the most famous retail store in the country, if not the world.”
As this case continues to unfold, it prompts a broader conversation about historical accountability and justice for victims of sexual misconduct, especially involving powerful individuals in prominent positions. The current investigations could potentially define a turning point in how such allegations are handled in future, ensuring that significant claims are never again dismissed or swept under the proverbial carpet.