Fayed slates police over sex assault inquiry

Published on Tuesday 17 February 2009 20:57

THE Harrods owner, Mohamed al-Fayed, yesterday attacked the way police had handled an allegation of sexual assault against him after learning he would not face charges.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said there was "no realistic prospect of conviction" over a claim by a 15-year-old girl that he kissed her at his Knightsbridge store in London.

The allegation was reported to police in May last year, but detectives did not interview the multi-millionaire until October.

Mr Fayed, who had vigorously protested his innocence, said he was watching a match at Fulham Football Club, which he owns, at the "precise time" of the alleged offence.

He claimed the first he knew of the allegation was when a story appeared on the front page of a national newspaper – he was shocked that details about the allegation were "leaked" to the media.

He said: "The investigation has reached an obvious and proper conclusion. But I have to ask why it took so long and why it was handled in such a way as to cause me and my businesses the maximum degree of damage.

"This should never be permitted in a democratic society. The leaks, the false stories, the innuendo, all make a bad situation worse.

"I am shocked that the system can be manipulated in such a way. It cannot be right that an accused person is publicly named before proceedings are brought.

"Now I know how distressing it is to be victimised in this way, I intend to fight to ensure others on the receiving end of false allegations are properly protected."

Rene Barclay, of the CPS in London, said officers had carried out a thorough investigation and made extensive inquiries.

"Having reviewed those statements and other material, we concluded that in the light of the conflicting evidence and the absence of sufficiently reliable accounts of crucial events, there was no realistic prospect of conviction," he said.