Al Fayed 'used cash gifts in bid to own directors'

Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of the famous Harrods department store in London, has been the subject of serious allegations regarding his behavior towards women. Jon Brilliant, a former director who worked in Al Fayed's private office for 18 months, has come forward with shocking claims about his experiences during that time. He stated that Al Fayed used cash gifts as a means to manipulate and control his employees. According to Jon, Al Fayed would give him envelopes filled with cash, totaling around $50,000, in an attempt to compromise him. Jon expressed, 'He tried to own you. And ultimately, I got fired because I couldn't be bought. ' Harrods has not responded to Jon's allegations but has previously stated that it is now a very different organization compared to when Al Fayed was in charge. Jon was horrified to learn about the allegations of abuse against Al Fayed, which involved hundreds of women. He reflected on whether he should have questioned more during his time at Harrods. Jon explained that the management structure at Harrods was designed to prevent trust and communication among top managers, making it difficult for them to fulfill their responsibilities and hold Al Fayed accountable for his actions. He stated, 'I can see how the management structure and culture was set up to cover it up, mask it from people. ' Four other former directors have anonymously confirmed aspects of Jon's account. Jon, who is originally from the United States, joined Harrods in August 2000 at the age of 36. His role was to help relaunch the store's online business. Just before his first business trip to Microsoft in Seattle, Al Fayed handed him a brown envelope containing $5,000 in cash. After the trip, Jon attempted to return the money, but Al Fayed insisted he keep it, asking, 'You didn't need any entertainment? ' Jon explained that he had been too busy to enjoy any entertainment during his trip. The practice of giving cash before business trips continued for the next six months, and Jon's colleagues warned him that Al Fayed was trying to compromise him. They suggested that Al Fayed wanted to have something on him that he could use against him if he ever turned against him. Jon admitted, 'I am certainly aware of people who succumbed to the temptation. ' He continued to try to return the money until he needed it to buy a home for his family. Al Fayed had a history of using cash as a tool for power and control, which had previously caused a scandal in the 1990s when he paid politicians to ask questions in the House of Commons and then exposed those who accepted his gifts. Jon was involved in managing several of Al Fayed's businesses, including the Ritz Hotel in Paris. He believed that he was not immune to Al Fayed's extensive surveillance, which was carried out by a large team of security guards. Jon recalled, 'Even when I tell this story to you right now, I get kind of goosebumps and the hair stands up on the back of my neck, realizing that my phones were being listened in on. ' His first suspicion of being bugged arose in 2002, shortly before he was fired. After a disagreement about funding for Fulham FC, he found that someone quoted a private conversation back to him in a meeting. Another former director, who wished to remain anonymous, shared that he was warned about the bugging in the Al Fayed-owned property he moved into when he started at Harrods. He and his wife would jokingly greet the security guards, saying 'good morning' to those who might be listening. Many directors kept personal mobile phones because they feared their work phones were being monitored. Jon and his family were invited to stay at Al Fayed's estate in Scotland, and he expressed his disbelief when he first heard about the BBC investigation into Al Fayed's actions. He reflected on whether he should have noticed something wrong during his time at Harrods. Jon worked in a highly secure office on the fifth floor of Harrods, which was protected by two sets of security doors. He described the administrative assistants as young, blonde, and obedient, stating that they were always ready to follow Al Fayed's orders. He now questions whether their behavior was influenced by the environment they were in. Jon explained that the management at Harrods was set against each other, creating a culture of distrust. He was given responsibilities that he felt were beyond his role, and he noticed that people were always watching him. Information was treated like a currency, and people would share it to gain favor with Al Fayed. An anonymous director confirmed that there was a lack of trust among the directors. Jon noted that managers were fired so frequently that it became a running joke at Harrods. The Sunday Times even began to keep track of how many managers were dismissed, reaching a count of 48 in 2005. Many of these dismissals led to legal actions, and some managers were required to sign non-disclosure agreements. Jon stated that to survive at Harrods, one had to follow orders without questioning them. He wanted to speak out for two reasons: to support the women who were mistreated and to encourage others to come forward with their stories.