Mohamed al Fayed’s legacy ‘smashed’, says alleged victim, as number of women coming forward soars
Mohamed al Fayed’s legacy will be “smashed”, an alleged victim of the former Harrods boss has said, as a lawyer tells Sky News the number of women coming forward has soared.
Five women have alleged they were raped by Fayed, who died last year at the age of 94, with several others alleging sexual misconduct.
Harrods said last week it is “utterly appalled” by the allegations and said it is a “very different organisation to the one owned and controlled by Fayed between 1985 and 2010”.
A lawyer for the Justice for Harrods Survivors group, Maria Mulla, said they were representing 37 women last Thursday – with 100 more enquiries over the weekend.
Cheska was 19 when she said Fayed grabbed her arms and kissed her as he claimed to be helping her acting career in his apartment, adding he could not help if she didn’t sleep with him.
Cheska and lawyer Maria Mulla
She didn’t think she stood much of a chance against Fayed when she first went public in 2018, but she believes it is different now, even if it is a “shame” he isn’t here to face the allegations.
“I think it gives everyone a sense of closure, this smashes his legacy, which is the next best thing I think that we can get,” she told the UK Tonight with Sarah-Jane Mee.
“Because no one else seemed to be standing up publicly, I felt there was no way I was going to be able to stack against someone like him, so I didn’t proceed.
“It’s very different now. I hope that everybody does get some kind of peace from this, apart from anything else.”
Mohamed Al Fayed. Pic: Reuters
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) twice decided not to prosecute Fayed after reviewing files of evidence presented by the police on the former Harrods owner.
Evidence was shown to the CPS in 2009 and 2015, but it decided not to go ahead with the prosecution because there was not “a realistic prospect of conviction”.
Cheska, who said she received a letter about the chance to work as Fayed’s assistant, did not return to Harrods after Fayed’s alleged actions and said nobody contacted her to check where she was.
She worked there for just one week.
“Amazingly, a lot of women have been extremely brave to tell their story, it’s just a shame that he is not here to face these allegations,” she added.
Harrods investigating current staff link
On Monday, Harrods said it is investigating if any current staff at the high-end department store are involved in any of the allegations either directly or indirectly.
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“The Harrods settlement process was designed in consultation with independent external counsel and experts in personal injury litigation,” the company said.
“All claims settled to date and moving forward will be based on the guidance of these external individuals to ensure swift and impartial outcomes for the victims.
“As part of our due diligence, there is an ongoing internal review (supported by external counsel) including looking at whether any current staff were involved in any of the allegations either directly or indirectly.
“In addition, the Harrods Board has established a non-executive committee of the Board to further consider the issues arising from the allegations.
“Harrods is also in direct communication with the Metropolitan Police to ensure we are offering our assistance with any of their relevant inquiries.”
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The department store has set up a page on its website inviting former employees to come forward if they have allegations.
Ms Mulla said anyone involved in the alleged incidents should be worried, claiming it was also “heavily entangled” in the business.
She criticised Harrods’ Monday statement, claiming they are “scant lines” when considering the “horror of the allegations”.
Nigel Farage has told Sky News he “can’t be pushed or bullied” by anybody after Elon Musk said the Reform MP “doesn’t have what it takes” to lead his party.
In an interview with Sky’s political correspondent Ali Fortescue, Mr Farage said he has spoken with the billionaire owner of X since his criticism on 5 January, when Mr Musk said: “The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesn’t have what it takes.”
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Asked if the pair are still friends, Mr Farage said: “Of course we’re friends. He just says what he thinks at any moment in time.”
He added he has “been in touch” with Mr Musk, though wouldn’t divulge what they had discussed.
“Look, he said lots of supportive things. He said one thing that wasn’t supportive. I mean, that’s just the way it is,” Mr Farage said.
Musk and Farage met in December. Pic: PA
Asked if he was afraid to criticise the tech mogul, the Clacton MP said the situation was “the opposite”, and he openly disagreed with Mr Musk on his views on far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Mr Farage said: “What he [Musk] was saying online was that effectively Tommy Robinson was a political prisoner and I wouldn’t go along with that.
“If I had gone along with that, he wouldn’t have put out a tweet that was against me.
“By the way, you know, I can’t be pushed or bullied or made to change by anybody.
“I stick to what I believe.”
Mr Musk has endorsed Robinson and claimed he was “telling the truth” about grooming gangs, writing on X: “Free Tommy Robinson”.
But Mr Farage said that Robinson, who is serving an 18-month jail term for contempt of court, isn’t welcome in Reform UK and neither are his supporters.
He said: “If people within Reform think Tommy Robinson should be a member of Reform and play a central role in Reform, that disagreement is absolutely fundamental.
“I’ve never wanted to work with people who were active in the BNP. I’ve made that clear right throughout the last decade of my on/off political career. So that’s what the point of difference is.”
Despite their disagreement, Mr Farage said he is confident Mr Musk will continue to support Reform and “may well” still give money to it.
The entrepreneur has previously spoken positively about Reform UK and there have been suggestions he could make a multi-million-pound donation in its favour.
Devolution plans ‘denial of democracy’
Mr Farage was speaking from Reform’s South East of England Conference, one of a series of regional events aimed at building up the party’s support base.
Elsewhere in the interview, he hit out at the Labour government’s devolution plans which could see some local elections scheduled for May postponed.
This would apply when councils seek permission to reorganise, so that smaller district authorities merge with other nearby ones to give them more sway over their area.
Mr Farage, who is hoping to make gains in the spring contests, claimed the plans are not about devolution but about “elections being cancelled”.
“I thought only dictators cancelled elections. This is unbelievable and devolution or a change to local government structures is being used as an excuse,” he said.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage earlier this month. Pic: PA
He claimed Tory-controlled councils are “grabbing it like it’s a life belt”, because they fear losing seats to Reform.
“It’s an absolute denial of democracy,” he added.
Mr Farage was also asked why many Reform members don’t like to speak on camera about why they support his party.
He said he did not accept there was a toxicity associated with Reform and claimed there was “institutional bias against anybody that isn’t left of centre”.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and divers have been dispatched to find two sisters who vanished in Aberdeen three days ago.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV in the city’s Market Street at Victoria Bridge at about 2.12am on Tuesday.
The siblings were captured crossing the bridge and turning right onto a footpath next to the River Dee in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Police Scotland has launched a major search and said it is carrying out “extensive inquires” in an effort to find the women.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Local officers, led by specialist search advisors, are being assisted by resources including police dogs and our marine unit.”
Aberdeenshire Drone Services told Sky News it has offered to help in the search and is waiting to hear back from Police Scotland.
CCTV of the sisters. Pic: Police Scotland
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The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Police said the Torry side of Victoria Bridge where the sisters were last seen contains many commercial and industrial units, with searches taking place in the vicinity.
The force urged businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review CCTV footage recorded in the early hours of Tuesday in case it captured anything of significance.
Drivers with relevant dashcam footage are also urged to come forward.
CI Bruce added: “We are continuing to speak to people who know Eliza and Henrietta and we urge anyone who has seen them or who has any information regarding their whereabouts to please contact 101.”
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