Woman says Salah Fayed drugged and sexually assaulted her at Highland estate

A woman has told BBC Scotland she was trafficked to the Scottish Highlands, drugged, and sexually assaulted by Salah Fayed, the brother of former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed.

The woman, identified only as Jill, said she was working at Harrods in the 1990s when she was recruited to what she believed was an executive training scheme. She said she was flown on the Fayed family's private jet to Balnagown, their estate in Easter Ross, where she was held prisoner and repeatedly assaulted.

Jill described Salah Fayed as "a very cruel man" who controlled almost every aspect of her life. She said he locked her in a room and forced her to take drugs.

"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."

She said he controlled what she wore, ate, and who she spoke to most of the time. "I was isolated, for most of the time," she said. "He was a very cruel man."

Police Scotland said three people have been identified in connection with offending against a number of victims at Balnagown and that inquiries are ongoing.

Since Mohamed Al Fayed's death in 2023, hundreds of women and girls have alleged they were sexually abused by him. His brother Salah, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2010, has also been accused of abuse by numerous women. More than 400 alleged victims or witnesses have come forward to lawyers since the allegations.

The Metropolitan Police said 168 victims have come forward and that seven suspects have been interviewed under caution on suspicion of offences including aiding and abetting rape and sexual assault, assisting the commission of sexual offences, and human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

Jill has contacted the Metropolitan Police and is pursuing legal action. Harrods, which is no longer owned by the Fayed family, said it recognised the "remarkable bravery" of survivors who had come forward and supported them in their pursuit of justice.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.