Main Index

Index to British press articles on the Fayeds' purchase of Harrods

In this article Dr Ashraf Marwan, the Egyptian VIP and former House of Fraser shareholder, features yet again in the exposure of the Fayed brothers' false representations to the British Press and Government.  In this piece it is alleged for the first time that the brothers' father was not the head of a family shipping and cotton dynasty, as claimed by Mohamed Al-Fayed and his representatives, but rather a humble school inspector.

The Observer 
Sunday, 17 March 1985

NEW evidence on the family origins of the Al-Fayed brothers, who now control House of Fraser, shows they were born in Alexandria, the sons of an inspector in the Egyptian Ministry of Education.
    The Al-Fayed brothers' father, Ali Ali Fayed, completed an application form for identity card with the Egyptian authorities on 24 April 1961, a copy of which has been handed to The Observer by Dr Ashraf Marwan.
    The document reveals that the Al-Fayed brothers, like their father, were simply known as Fayed in those days, and that their surname was altered subsequently.
    Dr Marwan last Friday instructed his solicitors, Travers Smith Braithwaite & Co, to write to the Al-Fayeds solicitors, Herbert Smith, inquiring further about the past history of one of the three brothers, Mohamed.
    The letter, a copy of which has been handed to The Observer by Dr Marwan, reads:

          Dear Sirs: In an article which appeared in the New York Times on 2 February 1965, a reference was
          made to one Mohamed Fayed. 
          In a book entitled 'Papa Doc', published by Penguin, in 1970, a reference appeared between pages 372
          and 374 to one Mohamed Fayed.  Our client has asked whether the person referred to in either, or both
          of those publications was the Mohamed Al-Fayed for whom you act in the various sets of proceedings
          pending between our client and your clients.
          We shall let you have copies of the publications.  In the meantime, we look forward to receiving your
          response,
          Yours faithfully, Travers Smith Braithwaite & Co.

Dr Marwan, the Egyptian tycoon who is the son-in-law of the late President Nasser, and at one time held a large shareholding in House of Fraser, has also produced a copy of a letter from accountants Price Waterhouse.
    The letter, marked 'Private and Confidential' and dated 28 August 1983, is addressed to Mohamed Fayed at 60 Park Lane, the present address of the Al-Fayed brothers.  The letter is addressed to Fayed as President of International Marine Services Inc of Dubai.  It concerns a report by the accountants into the financial position of International Marine Services.

Previous article

Next article