Main Index

Section Six Index:
Mohamed 'Al' Fayed - the facts

Articles 1-15

Articles 31-56

"Harrods: Tiny taunts Tebbit" by Melvyn Marckus
The Observer's City editor applies more pressure on the Government by publishing a robust letter from Tiny Rowland to Trade Secretary Norman Tebbit.

No. 16: The Observer
2 June 1985

"Harrods: Pressure mounts" by Melvyn Marckus
Marckus reports on new pressure applied to Trade Secretary Norman Tebbit by the Liberal Trade spokesman Ian Wrigglesworth.

No. 17: The Observer
9 June 1985

"Mohamed Al Fayed and 'the work' " by Melvyn Marckus
Marckus reveals the existence of a document seemingly confirming another power of attorney granted to Mohamed Al Fayed by the Sultan of Brunei.

No. 18: The Observer
28 July 1985

"The Sultan's Major Hanbury" by Lorana Sullivan
Sullivan reveals that a confidant of the Sultan of Brunei is a director of the Fayed-owned Liechtenstein company through which Mohamed Al Fayed purchased Harrods.

No. 19: The Observer
4 August 1985

"The Al-Fayeds: A $300m question" by Melvyn Marckus & Lorana Sullivan
The Observer's financial staff reveal the transfers of funds from the Sultan of Brunei's  Swiss bank accounts to those of the Fayeds prior to their bid for House of Fraser.

No. 20: The Observer
11 August 1985

"Harrods' Egyptian owners hit back at Tiny Rowland" by Ivan Fallon
Ivan Fallon rebukes the Observer's claims that the Fayeds bought Harrods with the Sultan of Brunei's cash and implies that its journalists write at their proprietor's behest.

No. 21: Sunday Times
11 August 1985

"OFT: The Harrods file is open" by Melvyn Marckus
Marckus reports on the prickly correspondence between Tiny Rowland and the Office of Fair Trading, and makes much of a recent statement issued by the OFT.

No. 22: The Observer
27 August 1985

"Rowland's $1.5 billion allegation" by Melvyn Marckus
Marckus reports on documents and audiotapes held by Tiny Rowland, which Rowland claims are proof that Mohamed Al Fayed had access to the Sultan's riches.

No. 23: The Observer
3 November 1985

"An open letter to Leon" by Melvyn Marckus
Marckus lists his criticisms of the Tory Government's handling of the Harrods sale and makes clear that he makes them independently of his proprietor.

No. 24: The Observer
10 November 1985

"Mark Thatcher's mystery trip to see Sultan" by Staff Reporter
Writing under an anonymous by-line, the Observer's editor Donald Trelford reports on an alleged trip the Prime Minister's son had taken to see the Sultan of Brunei.

No. 25: The Observer
12 January 1986

"Fayeds called to account on loans" by Melvyn Marckus and Lorana Sullivan
Financial expert Lorana Sullivan reveals the massive loans taken out by House of Fraser since its acquisition by the supposed billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed and his brothers.

No. 26: The Observer
4 May 1986

"Mark Thatcher and guru clues to Harrods deal" by Staff Reporter
Writing anonymously, Donald Trelford gives details of documents supporting the Observer's allegations that Mark Thatcher visited Brunei in October 1994.

No. 27: The Observer
18 May 1986

"Harrods men: We'll go for criminal libel" by Ivan Fallon
Ivan Fallon reports that Mohamed Fayed intends to sue the Observer for libel over its story that Mark Thatcher visited Brunei, based on denials by the Sultan's associates.

No. 28: Sunday Times
25 May 1986

"In search of the fabulous Pharaohs" by Peter Wickman
With great wit and irony freelance Peter Wickman tells the story of his investigation into Mohamed Al Fayed's claimed family background of cotton and shipping empires.

No. 29: The Observer
15 June 1986

"Harrods: The questions that won't go away" by Lorana Sullivan
Following their appointment to investigate the Fayeds' purchase of House of Fraser, Lorana Sullivan discusses the contested issues that the DTI Inspectors must resolve.

No. 30: The Observer
12 April 1987

Articles 31-56