A former Harrods employee has accused Salah Fayed, the brother of the late Mohamed Al Fayed, of drugging and sexually abusing her at the family's Highland estate. The woman alleges the abuse took place in the 1990s after she was recruited to what she believed was an executive training scheme.
Allegations of trafficking and assault
The woman claims she was trafficked to Balnagown, the estate in Easter Ross, on the Fayed family's private jet. She alleges Salah Fayed assaulted her and kept her prisoner there, according to the BBC. She said she was taken to Scotland twice, flying into Inverness Airport before being driven to the estate.
She told BBC Scotland that Salah forced her to take illegal substances. "The first time he forced me to take the drugs he tried to trick me into taking them," she said. "He had me locked in a room. He said 'you need to take this, it's good for you'. He lied about what it was and when I refused he screamed at me and forced me to take it. The drugs were part of his method of assaulting me."
Control and escape
The woman said Salah controlled what she ate, what she wore, and who she spoke to. She said most of what happened was against her will and that it took "effort" to escape the situation, adding that she "tried to raise the alarm and warn people". She also claimed she was aware of other women who alleged they were abused by Salah Fayed in Scotland, though some have never reported their experiences publicly.
Since Mohamed Al Fayed's death in August 2023, hundreds of women and girls have come forward alleging sexual abuse by him. Salah Fayed, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2010, has also been accused of abuse by numerous women.
Police investigation and legal action
Police Scotland said three people had been identified in connection with offending against a number of victims at Balnagown, and enquiries are ongoing. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Further investigation is ongoing. It would be inappropriate to comment further."
The woman's allegations have been reported to the Metropolitan Police, and she is pursuing legal action while supporting a statutory public inquiry. Salah Fayed was one of three Fayed brothers who purchased Harrods, the luxury Knightsbridge department store, in 1985. The business is no longer owned by the Fayed family; under new management, it said it recognised the "remarkable bravery" of survivors who had come forward and supported them in their pursuit of justice. The retailer has previously established a redress scheme for survivors of abuse linked to Mohamed Al Fayed.
The anonymous former employee added: "My life's work has been recovering from this. It has been a bitter, bitter, decades-long struggle." The Daily Record has contacted Balnagown Estate for comment.
