Harrods is seeking the removal of Mohammed Al-Fayed's widow, Heini Wathen-Fayed, and their daughters Jasmine and Camilla, as executors of his £118 million estate, the High Court has heard. The department store claims the family is reluctant to provide crucial financial information needed to settle sexual abuse claims with hundreds of women.
Harrods' barrister, Penelope Reed KC, told the court that independent executors would be better positioned to investigate the estate's affairs. She argued that the family, as administrators, might be motivated to "maximize the value of the estate," potentially conflicting with the need for objective settlement negotiations with alleged victims.
"There has been, we would say, a reluctance to provide information about the estate," Reed stated. She added that Harrods remained uncertain about the relationship between the estate and Hyde Park Residence Ltd (HPRL), a UK company that the Fayeds' lawyers claim is irrelevant and heavily indebted.
Lawyers for the Fayed family assert that they are working "dispassionately" with survivors, and Ms. Wathen-Fayed now accepts the veracity of their claims, a change from her previous stance. However, Harrods' legal team has expressed skepticism about this shift, questioning whether it was prompted by the current proceedings.
Allegations of abuse, sexual assault, rape, and human trafficking have been made against Al-Fayed, who owned Harrods from 1985 to 2010. Following his death in August 2023, Harrods established a redress scheme for employees who alleged abuse, with over 300 additional individuals seeking damages directly from the estate.
The case has revealed divisions among survivors, with the majority opposing Harrods' application. The family itself is also divided; Al-Fayed's younger son, Omar, supports the department store's application, while his older brother, Karim, does not.
Lawyers for the Fayed family accused Harrods of a "fishing expedition" and acting out of self-interest to recover compensation costs. They argued that appointing new executors would cause further expense and delay.
Judge Karen Shuman reserved her judgment on the matter. The hearing attracted significant interest from both the press and survivors.
Harrods stated that the case is about "seeking the independent administration of the Fayed estate for the benefit of all survivor claimants," adding that the administration should serve the interests of those seeking redress. A campaign group advocating for abuse survivors, No One Above, noted that Ms. Wathen-Fayed's change of heart does not resolve the conflict of interest and urged all parties to settle claims quickly.