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Throughout this report we refer to the brothers by the name "Fayed". We explain in appendix 3 of our report how they decided to assume false birth dates and a new name "Al Fayed" after they left Egypt and how Mohamed has given an explanation of this name which is bogus as far as Egyptian law is concerned.
Pages 6-7, paragraph 1.17
As month after month of our investigation went by we uncovered more cases where the Fayeds were plainly telling us lies. These discoveries culminated in a two-day questioning session in March 1988 when it became more obvious to us, from the manner and demeanour of both Mohamed and Ali Fayed, that they were witnesses who were only prepared to assist our inquiry when they believed it suited them to do so. In consequence of watching them give evidence we became reluctant to believe anything they told us unless it was reliably corroborated by independent evidence of a dependable nature.
Page 7, paragraph 1.19
The Fayeds dishonestly misrepresented their origins, their wealth, their business interests and their resources to the Secretary of State, the OFT [Office of Fair Trading], the Press, the HoF board and HoF shareholders, and their own advisers.
Page 13, paragraph 2.1.1
During the course of our investigations we received evidence from the Fayeds, under solemn affirmation and written memoranda, which was false and which the Fayeds knew to be false. In addition, the Fayeds produced a set of documents they knew to be false. This false evidence related mainly, but not exclusively, to their background, their past business activities and the way in which they came to be in control of enormous funds in the Autumn of 1984 and the Spring of 1985.
Page 13, paragraph 2.1.2
The evidence before us, however, indicates that it is highly likely that the Fayeds used their association with the Sultan of Brunei and the opportunities afforded to them by the possession of wide powers of attorney from the Sultan of Brunei to enable them to acquire those funds.
Page 13, paragraph 2.1.4
The Fayeds' assets were worth a fraction of what they portrayed to the public. They were certainly not worth several billion dollars as a director of Kleinwort Benson said on television on 10 March 1985.
Page 18, paragraph 2.3
The Fayeds are not "members of an old established Egyptian family who for more than 100 years were shipowners, landowners and industrialists in Egypt" as was said of them, with their knowledge, in November 1984 and as was repeated in a draft of their offer document which was provided by Kleinworts on 13 March 1985 to the DTI. After very detailed inquiries which were confirmed by a visit by a member of our staff to Egypt we conclude that they came from respectable but humble origins and are the sons of a teacher.
Page 18, paragraph 2.4.1
The Fayeds produced to us birth certificates which were false and which they knew to be false. They repeatedly lied to us about their family background, their early business life and their wealth. Furthermore, in the course of giving their own English solicitor a tour of properties and people during a visit to Egypt in September 1987, the Fayeds either caused him to obtain an incorrect impression of their past or allowed him to develop that impression unchecked. He returned to England and gave his account of what he had seen and heard in good faith. Very little of it stood up to independent inquiry.
Pages 18-19, paragraph 2.4.3
During the course of our investigations the Fayeds made serious accusations of lack of professional integrity against a responsible freelance journalist who had discovered the true story of their Egyptian past. We inquired into those allegations at great length and we reject them.
Page 19, paragraph 2.5.2
Certain aspects of Press coverage in this case concern us deeply, because the overall impression created by the Press in a matter of this complexity is widely accepted.
Page 19, paragraph 2.5.3
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