Epstein Victim Alleges Trafficking to Harrods Boss for Yacht Abuse
A woman who was a victim of Jeffrey Epstein has come forward with a shocking new allegation, claiming the late financier trafficked her to former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed, who then sexually abused her on his luxury yacht nearly three decades ago. The woman, identified only by the pseudonym Natalie, says she was just 17 years old when Epstein first targeted her before being sent to Al Fayed two years later in 1997.
Details of the Alleged Assault on the Jonikal Superyacht
Natalie told The Sunday Times that she flew to Saint-Tropez on the French Riviera where Al Fayed, whom she described as a much older man, met her aboard his Jonikal superyacht. This is the same vessel where Princess Diana and Al Fayed's son Dodi were photographed in 1997, just days before their tragic deaths in a car crash. Natalie confirmed she did not see either of them during her visit.
According to her account, Al Fayed began telling her he wanted to try new things with her and would not allow her to leave the luxury vessel until it docked. I was definitely on the boat, and it was definitely that guy, Natalie stated. I remember his face. You don't forget these things. She claims the billionaire sexually abused her during this time, adding: I feel like I was at this point where I had become used to this treatment.
Recent Realization and Willingness to Cooperate with Police
Natalie explained that she only recently realized it was Al Fayed who abused her when she saw an online story about him last November. Coming from a country where the late billionaire is not well-known, she says she is now willing to speak with British police officers about her experience. We were on the boat for a while and I remember being concerned about being stuck because I knew that I had other jobs to get to, she recalled. I asked to leave and get off, but I wasn't allowed to leave until we docked again.
Context of Broader Allegations Against Al Fayed
This allegation comes amid a wider pattern of accusations against Mohamed Al Fayed. Since his death in 2023 at age 94, more than 400 women have made allegations of rape and sexual assault by the former Harrods boss. Detectives have recently interviewed three suspected enablers under caution as part of their inquiry. These women, aged in their forties, fifties, and sixties, were questioned on suspicion of:
- Aiding and abetting rape and sexual assault
- Assisting the commission of sexual offences
- Human trafficking for sexual exploitation
Epstein Connection and Ongoing Investigations
While Jeffrey Epstein was known to traffic women to high-profile and powerful associates, there is no record of him doing so specifically for Al Fayed in the millions of Epstein files recently released by the US Department of Justice. However, Scotland Yard is separately examining Epstein's use of UK airports for possible trafficking purposes, with Essex and Bedfordshire police reviewing his use of Stansted and Luton airports.
Harrods has acknowledged failures during Fayed's ownership, stating: We failed our employees who were his victims and for this we sincerely apologise. The company's response highlights the broader institutional accountability questions surrounding these allegations.
