Britain’s criminal prosecution authority announced on Sunday that it had received evidence against the disgraced former Harrods owner, Mohamed Al-Fayed, on two separate occasions. Multiple women have accused him of sexual assault and rape, but no charges have been filed.
A BBC documentary released on Thursday featured numerous women who had worked at the upscale London department store, with five alleging they were raped by Fayed. A legal team is representing 37 women who claim Harrods facilitated a “systematic” pattern of abuse against young women and girls over the past 25 years.
Following the BBC investigation, lawyers reported receiving over 150 new inquiries related to the allegations.
A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that evidence regarding Al-Fayed’s alleged sexual offenses was reviewed in 2009 and 2015.
In 2008, he was accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl, leading to a CPS review of evidence the following year. In 2013, he faced a rape allegation from a woman, which was investigated in 2015. In both cases, the CPS determined there was no “realistic prospect of conviction” and chose not to press charges.
“To pursue a prosecution, the CPS must believe there is a realistic chance of securing a conviction. In these instances, our prosecutors thoroughly examined the evidence and found it lacking,” the spokesperson stated.
Additionally, the CPS provided early investigative guidance to London’s Metropolitan Police regarding allegations against Fayed three times from 2018 to 2023. Kevin Southworth, the police force’s lead on public protection, noted that the Met was aware of various sexual offense allegations related to Fayed over the years and would investigate if new information arises.
Harrods, which Fayed sold in 2010, expressed its shock and dismay over the allegations.