Detectives from the Metropolitan Police investigating sexual assault allegations against the late Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed have submitted a file of evidence concerning one suspect to prosecutors.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will now consider whether charges should be brought against the suspect but has not given a timeframe for when a decision is expected.
The Met emailed groups representing Fayed’s survivors on Monday, saying: “Met Police detectives have today submitted a full evidential file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for a charging decision.
“The file relates to one suspect, a man in his 80s, and relates to two indecent assaults on two women in London. Officers will continue to work closely with CPS prosecutors as the case progresses.
“To date, seven suspects have been interviewed under caution on suspicion of offences including aiding and abetting rape and sexual assault, assisting in the commission of sexual offences, and human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
“This remains a complex and highly sensitive investigation. Our focus is on pursuing all available lines of enquiry, maintaining the integrity of the investigation, and supporting those who have come forward.”
The force has been dealing with at least 156 alleged victims who contacted them directly, including 21 who came forward before the former Harrods owner died in 2023 at the age of 94 without facing any charges.
A spokesman from the Fayed survivor group, No One Above, said: “We call on the Met to confirm it is securing evidence on all perpetrators and co-conspirators – including the financial and documentary evidence of how victims were recruited, screened, moved, harboured and silenced.”
More than 400 allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against Fayed, dating between 1977 and 2014, including sexual assault, rape, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
The investigation, known as Operation Cornpoppy, was launched in November 2024 and is looking at people who may have facilitated or enabled Al Fayed’s crimes.
Seven people have been questioned under caution: four women in their 40s, 50s, 60s and 80s, and three men in their 60s, 70s and 80s.
Harrods was sold by Al Fayed in 2010.