Latest news with #Fayair
The Independent
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
‘More than 100 survivors' of alleged abuse by Al Fayed enter redress scheme
More than 100 survivors of alleged sexual abuse by Mohamed Al Fayed have entered Harrods' redress scheme, the department store said as it also confirmed applicants had started receiving compensation. The scheme, developed with law firm MPL Legal and funded by Harrods, opened for applications at the end of March and will remain live until March 31 next year. In a three-month update, the store announced that survivors who were employed by Mr Al Fayed's private airline company Fayair (Jersey) Co. Limited, and claim to have suffered abuse before May 7 2010, can now also apply to the scheme. 'Since the redress scheme's inception, more than 100 survivors have entered the process, with many having had eligibility confirmed,' Harrods said. 'Compensation awards and interim payments began being issued to eligible survivors at the end of April. 'Survivors are making use of both the non-medical and medical pathways.' The store also stressed that the scheme did not require survivors to undergo medical assessment. 'There have been misleading reports that the scheme requires survivors to be assessed by a medical expert,' it said in its FAQs. 'Harrods would like to reassure survivors that this is not the case. Since its launch, the scheme has provided eligible applicants with a choice to proceed with either a non-medical pathway or medical pathway.' Harrods 'apologises unreservedly' for the sexual abuse people suffered and 'wants everyone who is eligible to receive this compensation', according to documents on the scheme's website. Those eligible can apply for a number of types of compensation: – General damages of up to £200,000– Work impact payment of up to £150,000– Aggravated damages of up to £25,000– Wrongful testing fixed payment(s) of up to £10,000– Treatment costs All eligible applicants are offered a meeting with a senior Harrods' representative, to receive an apology in person or by video, as well as an individual written apology. The scheme only requires 'documentary evidence', meaning applicants are not asked to give oral evidence about their claims. If a person makes a successful application and accepts an offer, it is treated as 'full and final settlement', meaning they waive their right to pursue action for damages. It was reported earlier this month that the Metropolitan Police had apologised to alleged victims of Mr Al Fayed for the distress they had suffered in a letter leaked to the BBC. The Met is reviewing a total of 21 allegations that were made before Mr Al Fayed died in 2023, and had referred two of these to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in November. More than 100 alleged victims have contacted police to say they were sexually abused by the tycoon, the youngest of whom is thought to have been 13 at the time.
The Guardian
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
More than 100 survivors of alleged sexual abuse enter Harrods' scheme for compensation
More than 100 survivors of alleged sexual abuse by the former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed have entered the company's compensation scheme, the luxury department store has confirmed. The retailer set up the scheme after dozens of women came forward with allegations of abuse by the late entrepreneur going back as far as 1977 after the broadcast last year of the BBC documentary Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods. On Tuesday, Harrods confirmed applicants to a compensation scheme set up in March had started receiving compensation. Those eligible can apply for a number of types of redress including general damages of up to £200,000 and a work impact payment of up to £150,000 as well as payments for 'wrongful testing' and treatment costs. All eligible applicants are offered a meeting with a senior Harrods' representative to receive an apology in person or by video, as well as an individual written apology. The scheme, developed with law firm MPL Legal and funded by Harrods, will remain live until 31 March next year. The company has stressed that the scheme does not require survivors to undergo medical assessment and claims can be based on 'documentary evidence' without alleged victims having to speak in person about their experiences. In a three-month update, the store announced that survivors who were employed by Fayed's private airline company Fayair (Jersey) Co Ltd and claim to have suffered abuse before 7 May 2010 – when Al Fayed sold the business – can now also apply to the scheme. 'Since the redress scheme's inception, more than 100 survivors have entered the process, with many having had eligibility confirmed,' Harrods said. 'Compensation awards and interim payments began being issued to eligible survivors at the end of April. Survivors are making use of both the non-medical and medical pathways.' The Metropolitan police said last year that 111 women had made allegations against Fayed, the youngest of whom is thought to have been 13 at the time. The force has apologised to alleged victims of Fayed for the distress they had suffered. Complaints against the Met over its handling of allegations will be investigated by the force itself under the direction of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The Met is also reviewing 21 allegations that were made before Fayed died in 2023, and referred two of these to the IOPC in November. In documents on the scheme's website, Harrods 'apologises unreservedly' for the sexual abuse people suffered and 'wants everyone who is eligible to receive this compensation'. If a person makes a successful application and accepts an offer, it is treated as 'full and final settlement', meaning they waive their right to pursue action for damages. Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘More than 100 survivors' of alleged abuse by Al Fayed enter redress scheme
More than 100 survivors of alleged sexual abuse by Mohamed Al Fayed have entered Harrods' redress scheme, the department store said as it also confirmed applicants had started receiving compensation. The scheme, developed with law firm MPL Legal and funded by Harrods, opened for applications at the end of March and will remain live until March 31 next year. In a three-month update, the store announced that survivors who were employed by Mr Al Fayed's private airline company Fayair (Jersey) Co. Limited, and claim to have suffered abuse before May 7 2010, can now also apply to the scheme. 'Since the redress scheme's inception, more than 100 survivors have entered the process, with many having had eligibility confirmed,' Harrods said. ADVERTISEMENT 'Compensation awards and interim payments began being issued to eligible survivors at the end of April. 'Survivors are making use of both the non-medical and medical pathways.' The store also stressed that the scheme did not require survivors to undergo medical assessment. More than 100 alleged victims have contacted police to say they were sexually abused by Mohamed Al-Fayed (Anthony Devlin/PA) 'There have been misleading reports that the scheme requires survivors to be assessed by a medical expert,' it said in its FAQs. 'Harrods would like to reassure survivors that this is not the case. Since its launch, the scheme has provided eligible applicants with a choice to proceed with either a non-medical pathway or medical pathway.' Harrods 'apologises unreservedly' for the sexual abuse people suffered and 'wants everyone who is eligible to receive this compensation', according to documents on the scheme's website. Those eligible can apply for a number of types of compensation: ADVERTISEMENT – General damages of up to £200,000 – Work impact payment of up to £150,000 – Aggravated damages of up to £25,000 – Wrongful testing fixed payment(s) of up to £10,000 – Treatment costs All eligible applicants are offered a meeting with a senior Harrods' representative, to receive an apology in person or by video, as well as an individual written apology. The scheme only requires 'documentary evidence', meaning applicants are not asked to give oral evidence about their claims. Harrods is funding the scheme (Jonathan Brady/PA) If a person makes a successful application and accepts an offer, it is treated as 'full and final settlement', meaning they waive their right to pursue action for damages. It was reported earlier this month that the Metropolitan Police had apologised to alleged victims of Mr Al Fayed for the distress they had suffered in a letter leaked to the BBC. ADVERTISEMENT The Met is reviewing a total of 21 allegations that were made before Mr Al Fayed died in 2023, and had referred two of these to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in November. More than 100 alleged victims have contacted police to say they were sexually abused by the tycoon, the youngest of whom is thought to have been 13 at the time.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
More than 100 survivors of Mohamed Al Fayed's abuse claim compensation
More than 100 victims of Mohamed Al Fayed's abuse have entered a compensation scheme opened by Harrods on 31 March, the luxury department store has started issuing compensation at the end of April and the scheme remains open for new applications until 31 March for the scheme has been extended to employees of one of Fayed's private airline companies, Fayair (Jersey) Co Ltd, Harrods also said that it has filed a case at the High Court asking for the executors of Fayed's estate to be replaced following the lack of "any progress" in resolving his affairs since he died in 2023. This is to "ensure the Estate is responsibly administered, [and to] to protect any assets in the Estate for the benefit of potential claimants", Harrods BBC has contacted representatives of the Fayed family for also said that "feedback from survivors continues to be listened to whether raised directly or via legal firms or Dame Jasvinder Sanghera, the Independent Survivor Advocate".Multiple women who worked for the former department store owner who died last year have accused him of rape and sexual March Harrods said victims of abuse by the former Harrods owner could receive up to £385,000 in compensation plus treatment costs if they agree to be assessed by a consultant psychiatrist. Survivors who do not choose to be medically assessed by a psychiatrist will receive lower BBC's Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods heard testimony from more than 20 female ex-employees at Harrods who said Fayed sexually assaulted or raped more women sent the BBC their accounts of abuse by Fayed including sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape after the documentary and podcast were published in was not charged before his death.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nannies and air hostesses accuse Mohamed al-Fayed of sexual abuse
Mohamed al-Fayed's former personal staff are seeking to sue the tycoon's estate over sexual abuse they allegedly suffered while working for the billionaire. Law firm Leigh Day has sent pre-action letters to Mr Fayad's estate on behalf of two former air hostesses who worked for his luxury air carrier Fayair, and three of the family's former nannies. The five women claim they suffered 'serious sexual abuse, harassment and mistreatment' while working for the Egyptian billionaire between 1995 and 2012. The women allege they also faced verbal abuse and threats when they tried to raise concerns about the mistreatment. All of the women, whose cases have not been publicly reported before, have chosen to stay anonymous. The group are seeking compensation for the alleged abuse, and have called for an independent public inquiry into the business mogul and his brother Salah al-Fayed, who has also been accused of abuse. Mr Fayed died in 2010. Richard Meeran, partner at Leigh Day, said: 'We have taken this step on behalf of those of our clients who were abused by Mr Fayed while working for him or his other businesses outside of Harrods. 'Our clients took on roles as professionals and should have been able to expect a safe working environment, instead they were subjected to serious sexual abuse, harassment and mistreatment.' The lawsuits come as Harrods, the Knightsbridge department store Mr Fayed bought in 1985, faces a string of allegations of sexual misconduct by the businessman made by former employees. Mr Fayed, who died in 2023 aged 94, is accused of multiple counts of rape and attempted rape by women who worked at Harrods. Allegations include claims Mr Fayed sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl inside Harrods' boardroom. Another woman who worked as Mr Fayed's personal assistant claimed the businessman raped her in his luxury apartment that overlooked London's Hyde Park. Mr Meeran said: 'Much of the media reporting around Mr Fayed's decades of depraved and predatory behaviour has centred around his work at Harrods, but it is important that his estate is also made legally accountable for the widespread abuse he perpetrated against those who may never have had dealings with the famous store.' Women who worked for Mr Fayed's other ventures, including Fulham FC and the Ritz Hotel Paris, have also alleged they were sexually abused by the Egyptian billionaire. Harrods itself, which is now owned by the Qatar Investment Authority, has said it has settled with more than 250 former employees who allege they were abused. The Knightsbridge store has also reportedly increased the maximum amounts it is offering in compensation to ex-Harrods staff who were abused by Mr Fayed, from sums of £330,000 to £400,000, Sky News reported on Sunday. Commenting on the new compensation scheme, a Harrods spokesperson said: 'It would be premature for us to comment on the nature and details of a scheme that is currently under consultation. 'We are actively inviting the valuable input from survivors and their legal representatives to establish the final scheme that aims to be survivor-first, trauma-informed, and fair in its approach to compensation. Further updates will be provided once the consultation period is complete.' Lawyers for Mr Fayed's estate were contacted for comment. Al-Fayed was born the son of a school inspector in Alexandira, Egypt in 1929. He started his career selling fizzy drinks on the streets of his home city before branching out to furniture and shipping. The Egyptian tycoon moved to London in 1964, where he cultivated linked to British high society including the Royals. Mr Fayed acquired Harrods for £615m in 1985. He sold it to the Qatari royal family for a reported £1.5bn in 2010. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
