Two women, Catherine and Natacha, have accused Mohamed al Fayed of sexual assault and claimed that a doctor conducted intrusive medical examinations on his employees. They assert that Dr Ann Coxon was aware these tests were meant to facilitate Fayed’s assaults. Both women were 19 when they began their employment at Harrods in 1989.
Natacha has reported Dr Coxon to the General Medical Council (GMC), with Catherine planning to follow suit. They also described witnessing Fayed forcing another female employee to kneel and imitate a donkey. Five former Harrods employees have accused Fayed of rape, and over 100 women have come forward alleging assault or providing evidence. Police are urging any potential victims to step forward to aid their investigation.
Catherine and Natacha alleged Dr Coxon performed unnecessary gynaecological exams as a condition of their employment. Catherine recounted how Dr Coxon convinced her that a comprehensive medical exam included these tests, which extended to HIV and STD screenings. She now realizes the absurdity of not recognising the impending abuse.
“Something was rotten at the core of Harrods.”
Mohamed Al Fayed, the former boss of the luxury London department store, has been accused of sexual assault by dozens of women. pic.twitter.com/q6mdtyVwJf
— DW News (@dwnews) September 23, 2024
Natacha emphasized that Dr Coxon “has massive questions to answer” for conducting these intrusive exams and sharing the results within Harrods, which she deemed highly inappropriate. A GMC spokesperson expressed horror at the alleged sexual abuse by Fayed and concern over the involvement of medical staff. The GMC promised to thoroughly investigate any fitness to practise issues and take necessary action.
Sky News has reached out to Dr Coxon for a response. Catherine and Natacha recounted an incident where Fayed humiliated another employee by making her bray like a donkey, with tears streaming down her face. Catherine described it as one of the most shocking experiences, noting the terrifying atmosphere and Fayed’s laughter at the employee’s humiliation.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Sky News: Mohamed al Fayed’s accusers claim Dr Ann Coxon conducted “wholly unnecessary” and “intrusive” medical tests, raising allegations of misconduct and confidentiality breaches.(read more)
- The Guardian reports on women accusing Mohamed Al Fayed of rape, urging an inquiry into doctors who conducted intrusive medical tests before sharing results with the company, highlighting a culture of fear and exploitation at Harrods.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who are the two women alleging sexual assault by Mohamed al Fayed?
What did Catherine and Natacha allege Dr Ann Coxon did?
They claimed she conducted unnecessary, intrusive medical examinations for Mohamed al Fayed.
How many women have come forward with allegations against Mohamed al Fayed?
What specific incident involving another employee did Catherine and Natacha describe?
They described an incident where Fayed made an employee kneel and bray like a donkey.
Have the allegations against Dr Ann Coxon been reported to any authority?
Yes, Natacha reported her to the General Medical Council (GMC).
