Complaint made against ‘called off investigation’ into sexual abuse from survivor of Mohamed Al Fayed due to ill-health

An investigation into an allegation of abuse by Mohamed Al Fayed was shut down due to Al Fayed claiming ill-health. A survivor of the abuse, Pelham Spong, speaks out to say a thorough investigation of the medical evidence should have been carried out by the police. Spong reported the abuse to the police in 2017 to say that she had been abused by Fayed a decade before however the investigation was shut down due to the officers being ‘unable to take an account from the suspect owing to his poor ill-health.’

It was reported by Spong, that she had applied for a PA job role for Al Fayed in 2008 while living in Paris. She alleges how while she was in London for interviews Al Fayed assaulted her, by grabbing and kissing her, to try make it clear how sex was a requirement for the role. The company also made it requirement for Spong to undergo an intimate medical examination, the results of which were passed to Al Fayed. 

The delay in reporting the abuse came as she was too afraid of Al Fayed’s power to report him. She finally found the courage in 2017 in which an investigation by the Metropolitan police commenced. In June 2018 she was advised by an officer that they had received expert evidence from Al Fayed which will have an impact on the investigation and consequently thirteen days later Spong was informed how due to Al Fayed’s health the case will be closed.

Al Fayed’s son recently spoke out to say that his father had pretended to have dementia in order to avoid prosecution. 

Spong’s complaint to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) details how the police should have been more thorough in checking the medical evidence that was provided to them. She also states how the MET had enough evidence from her to move forward with the case including a file of emails, letters and medical records from the application process. The police had failed to obtain statements from the doctors, the recruiter who recommend Spong to go for the job, and other Harrods staff who could support her claim.

She also states the police had gone to the wrong company for records about her job application. 

The MET confirmed that they were aware of 21 allegations made against Al Fayed however Spong speaks on how the MET did nothing despite more and more women coming forward. 

The MET have responded by saying how the complaint has transformed the way it investigated sexual offences, putting survivors at the heart of its response. Its review into investigations against Al Fayed is looking for evidence of misconduct or corruption among officers.

The Met is also investigating people who may have enabled Al Fayed's abusive behaviour.