MOHAMED Al Fayed’s son revealed he is “horrified” by allegations of sexual abuse that “throw into question the loving memory” of his dad.
The late business tycoon, who died aged 94, was exposed in BBC documentary Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods, and more than 200 alleged victims have since come forward.
GettyMohamed Al Fayed with his son Omar, 36[/caption]
Son Omar Al Fayed hailed his “wonderful dad” but vowed this “does not blind me from an objective assessment of circumstances” in light of the claims.
In a public statement, the 36-year-old environmental entrepreneur said: “The extent and explicit nature of the allegations are shocking and has thrown into question the loving memory I had of him.
“How this matter could have been concealed for so long and in so many ways, raises further disturbing questions.
“Throughout history, people in positions of power have all too often been shielded from the consequences of their actions, and justice has frequently been delayed or denied to those who have suffered.
“I firmly believe that anyone found guilty of such reprehensible actions, including having had facilitated, enabled or helped cover up such actions, no matter their status, must be held accountable.
“The alleged victims and public deserve full transparency and accountability.
“I will continue to support the principles of truth, justice, accountability, and fairness, regardless of where that journey may lead.
“No one is above the law, and all victims deserve their day in court.”
He added he will support “any legitimate investigation into these allegations”.
It comes after an ex-Harrods employee alleged how she was trafficked and drugged before Al Fayed tried to rape her.
Five alleged victims appeared on BBC Breakfast earlier this week to open up about the abuse they allegedly suffered at Al Fayed’s hands.
Former Harrods secretary Lindsay was one of the women who shared their harrowing ordeals.
Lindsay told how Al Fayed sexually harassed, sexually assaulted and groped female staff on a daily basis.
And she said Al Fayed drugged and attempted to rape her on a work trip to Paris.
And, bravely talking from the GMB sofa, Gemma, a former personal assistant to Al Fayed, also said she was raped at Villa Windsor.
She said: “I didn’t think the extent of what happened to me had happened to others. It was such a secret place to work.
“I knew others were going through harassment and I knew there were issues, but I didn’t know to the extent of my attack had happened to others.
“I’ve shared what I have on the doc, it’s a difficult subject, I struggle still to talk about.
“It’s getting easier, and with these people to support me it’s certainly getting easier.”
Gemma claimed Fayed’s “lawyers, security team” would threaten her by telling her they knew where her family lived.
Meanwhile, a stable hand who worked for Al Fayed has told how the alleged sexual predator got teenage workers to trot past with his horses so he could ogle them.
The woman — just 15 at the time in 1987 — was one of a team employed to look after the Harrods boss’s nags and said he “got off” on humiliating staff and leaving them fearing for their jobs.
Plus, Al Fayed’s victims are now ‘hunting for his Ghislaine Maxwell-style fixer’ who protected the alleged sex attacker.
They claimed he had a ‘fixer’ who would would seek out young victims for the alleged predator.
Fayed’s “fixer” has been described as a blonde woman who donned designer clothes and drove a Porshe.
A teenager who alleged to meet her claimed the helper would show off her money before asking if they wanted to meet her wealthy friend.
The woman was working as a senior executive at Harrods at the time, it was claimed.
She would hang around in wealthy areas of London and entice young women out for drinks at expensive venues before making twisted promises to help them with work.
Allegedly the woman took them to vile Al Fayed’s penthouse as if she was delivering them to the predator on a silver plater.
The source said the ‘fixer’ was proud of herself for bringing him a different victim “every couple of months.
More than 20 women have now laid bare the abuse they suffered at the hands of the business tycoon.
Another 200 victims have since come forward with claims, lawyer Dean Armstrong KC said last week.
Armstrong said: “We have heard from scores and scores, probably up to 200 people coming to us to give us their accounts.
“This was a system in Harrods to facilitate the abuse Al Fayed engaged in.”
The lawyer also represents women employed by Al Fayed at the Ritz hotel in Paris.
Harrods said in a statement: “We are utterly appalled by the allegations of abuse perpetrated by Mohamed Al Fayed. These were the actions of an individual who was intent on abusing his power wherever he operated and we condemn them in the strongest terms.
“We also acknowledge that during this time as a business we failed our employees who were his victims and for this we sincerely apologise.
“The Harrods of today is a very different organisation to the one owned and controlled by Al Fayed between 1985 and 2010, it is one that seeks to put the welfare of our employees at the heart of everything we do.”
Harrods said there is compensation for ex-employees who claim they were assaulted by Fayed.
They added how financial settlements have been reached with most of the people who have come forward since last year.
Mohamed Fayed sexually abused hundreds of women across the globe, lawyers claim
By Michael Hamilton
PERVERT Mohamed Fayed sexually abused hundreds of women across the world, lawyers said yesterday.
The legal group representing his victims said that more than 200 had come forward so far.
Justice for Harrods Survivors also said other parts of Fayed’s empire — including Fulham FC — had now been dragged into the probe.
In an update a week after a press conference to reveal Fayed’s vast web of abuse, a spokesman said: “Anywhere Mohamed Al-Fayed went, abuse would follow.
“We have been responding to inquiries from more survivors of abuse, whether from their time at Harrods or in other corners of his empire.
“We have also heard from others who are witnesses to that abuse.
“Finally, we are hearing from current employees of Harrods who are relaying both their current and historic experiences.”
“Their courage is helping our team expand our understanding of Harrods’ vast system of abuse.
“The response has simply been enormous. To date, we have fielded well over 200 messages that are coming from all over the world.
“We are now in possession of evidence of abuse at other Al-Fayed properties and businesses, including Fulham Football Club.
“To anyone who might have been impacted, please know that you are not alone.”
Egyptian tycoon Fayed, who died last year aged 94, was exposed as a serial sexual predator in a BBC documentary last week.
We told yesterday how pressure was mounting on Fayed’s inner circle over what they knew about his reign of terror at posh West London store Harrods.
GettyFayed allegedly preyed on young female members of staff[/caption]