London — Al Fayed Case Files Forwarded to Prosecutors

LONDON — Metropolitan Police officially handed over investigation files on the late Mohamed Al Fayed's alleged sexual crimes to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The transfer occurred three years after the death of the former Harrods owner, who passed away at the age of 94, and decades after the first survivors reported the abuses.

The CPS stated that it would not set a deadline for the prosecution decision. This stance has reignited criticism of the slow pace of law enforcement in the case, which victims say has been delayed for too long, while the police previously apologized for failing to follow up on initial reports.

Over 400 Reports from 156 Women

At least over 400 allegations — including rape, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking — were reported by at least 156 women. The allegations spanned from 1977 to 2014, mostly targeting Harrods employees and job applicants, but Al Fayed died without facing any charges.

"The crimes he is alleged to have committed required a large network of facilitators. Don't the victims deserve to see them also face justice?" said critic Marina Hyde regarding the investigation's focus on the late billionaire.

Timeline of the Al Fayed Case

1. 1977–2014: Period of alleged abuse and exploitation of young women, including personal assistants forced to undergo "purity tests" by doctors.
2. 1990s–2000s: Several reports emerged, but none resulted in court cases. Only at least 21 women spoke out while Al Fayed was still alive.
3. August 2023: Al Fayed died at the age of 94 without ever being charged.
4. 2024–2025: A new wave of reports erupted after investigative journalism and documentaries. The number of survivors increased, and some victims were officially recognized as human trafficking victims.
5. August 2026: The Met handed over investigation files to the CPS for consideration, opening the possibility of prosecution against others.

Focus Shifts to the Facilitators

Investigators are now examining the network that allowed these crimes to persist for nearly four decades: lawyers who silenced complaints, PR representatives who managed the image, security guards who intimidated, and doctors who conducted controversial medical examinations. Survivors and their legal teams demand accountability from the facilitators still alive, not just the main figure who is no longer present.

The scale of the case is described as extraordinary: police face hundreds of cross-generational reports, while documentaries and media coverage continue to reveal how the working environment around Al Fayed was designed to silence victims. Public trust in institutions that previously ignored these reports is at stake.

As of now, the CPS has not determined who will be charged and when a decision will be made. For the 156 survivors and hundreds of affected families, the handover of the files is a significant step — though it comes very late — towards full accountability for one of the biggest power abuse scandals in British history.