‘I Was Told It Was Executive Training:’ Woman Says Salah Fayed Trafficked and Drugged Her in Scotland

A former Harrods employee, identified as Jill, has alleged that Salah Fayed, brother of late owner Mohamed Al Fayed, trafficked her to Scotland, drugged and sexually assaulted her in the 1990s. She said she was recruited under the belief that she was joining an executive training scheme before being taken to Balnagown Estate in the Fayed family’s private jet and held against her will.

Her account adds to wider abuse allegations involving the Fayed family. Police Scotland has confirmed ongoing enquiries into reports linked to the estate, with three people identified in connection with alleged offences involving multiple victims.

Salah Fayed died in 2010, while Mohamed Al Fayed died in 2023, aged 94.

From Harrods Employment to Trips to Scotland

Jill said she began working at Harrods in the 1990s, initially for Mohamed Al Fayed, before being assigned to his brother Salah. She recalled, “I thought it might be better,” adding, “Mohamed seemed creepy to me.”

She said she was flown to Scotland twice on the Fayed family’s private jet and taken from Inverness Airport to Balnagown Estate in Easter Ross. “When you flew there, you flew into Inverness and their vehicles would pick you up from the airport and take you to the estate,” she said. Jill alleged that Salah Fayed took her to his private residence, where the abuse occurred.

Jill Describes Alleged Drugging and Sexual Assault

Jill alleged that Salah Fayed drugged her as part of the abuse, sometimes deceiving or forcing her to take substances. Recalling one incident, she said: “The first time he forced me to take the drugs he tried to trick me into taking them.” She also described being locked in a room and forced to take an unidentified substance after refusing.

“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 added, “The drugs were part of his method of assaulting me.”

Jill said she was isolated and that Fayed exploited her vulnerabilities. “I was isolated, for most of the time,” she said, describing him as “a very cruel man.” She eventually managed to escape and said she tried to warn others, believing she was not the only victim: “I was by then aware that I could not have been the only one. I tried to raise the alarm, I tried to warn people.”

Police Scotland Confirms Ongoing Enquiries

Police Scotland confirmed ongoing enquiries into alleged offences linked to Balnagown, with three people identified in connection with multiple victims. A spokesperson said: “We have enquiries ongoing into reports of offending linked to Balnagowan. Three people have been identified in connection with offending against a number of victims. Our enquiries are ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

The force urged anyone who experienced abuse to report it, stressing that complaints would be taken seriously regardless of how much time had passed. Separately, the Metropolitan Police investigation into allegations involving Mohamed Al Fayed has received reports from 168 victims, while seven suspects have been interviewed under caution over suspected offences including rape, sexual assault and human trafficking for sexual exploitation. BBC reporting also says Jill has contacted the Metropolitan Police and is pursuing legal action.

Wider Allegations Against the Fayed Brothers

Jill’s allegations add to the wider scrutiny of the Fayed family. The 2024 BBC documentary Predator at Harrods featured more than 20 women who alleged sexual assault by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed. Since then, more than 400 alleged victims and witnesses have approached lawyers with claims of sexual misconduct, rape, sexual exploitation and human trafficking dating from 1977 to 2014.

Salah Fayed, who died in 2010, has also faced sexual abuse allegations from multiple women. Harrods has expressed support for survivors, describing their bravery as “remarkable”, and established a redress scheme for those abused by Mohamed Al Fayed.