An Australian doctor who allegedly carried out sexual health tests on a future victim of Mohamed Al Fayed has denied claims he did so at his request, insisting that even if he had tested Harrods staff he would never have shared his details with the billionaire. predator.
Fayed, who died last year aged 94, has been accused of a litany of sexual offenses against dozens of women, some as young as 15, during the years he owned London’s most prestigious department store.
Many of his crimes were first detailed in an unauthorized 1998 biography written by journalist Tom Bower.
But more sickening crimes have come to light following a recent BBC documentary in which more than 20 former Harrods employees accused Fayed of sexual assault, including rape.
On Friday, the Metropolitan Police announced that it is now investigating 40 new allegations, bringing the total number of women who have complained to more than 60.
Notorious germophobe Fayed is accused of ordering young female employees he found attractive to undergo “invasive” STD testing.
Dr. Jane Reffell allegedly performed a “thorough gynecological examination” on a young lawyer who was selected to work for Fayed in 1989 because of her good looks.
The sleazy billionaire would later make repeated sexual advances toward the then 25-year-old lawyer, forcing her to lock herself in the bathroom of his Paris suite.
Daily Mail Australia tracked Dr Reffell down to the sleepy town of Bangalow in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, about 15 minutes inland from the hippie hangout of Byron Bay, where she runs a health clinic. female since 2002.
Daily Mail Australia tracked down Dr Jane Reffell (pictured) to the sleepy town of Bangalow in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, about 15 minutes inland from Byron Bay, where she runs a treatment practice. women’s health since 2002.
Mohamed Al Fayed (pictured), who died last year aged 94, has been accused of a litany of sexual crimes against dozens of women, some as young as 15, during the years he owned the big most prestigious stores in London.
Bowers’ book alleged that Dr Reffell “understood what Fayed required”, which was for his female staff to have a certificate of good sexual health before taking advantage of them.
However, Dr. Reffell vehemently denied ever having played that role.
“I just don’t think it was me,” he told this publication.
“There are other doctors who worked very closely with Fayed, but not me.”
Asked if she had ever carried out a sexual health test on a Harrods employee, Dr Reffell said: “I did test, but it was private and confidential.”
“And I never made them for Al Fayed per se, but I might have made them for his staff if they were patients at the practice.”
Known for scouring the aisles of Harrods in search of attractive young women to work with in his top-floor office, Fayed tirelessly courted and entertained high-ranking members of the UK royal family (pictured with the then-Princess of Wales and his wife). , Princess Diana, who later died in a car accident with Fayed’s son Dodi in Paris)
Notorious germophobe Fayed is accused of ordering young female employees he found attractive to undergo “invasive” STD testing (pictured: Fayed with actress Lucy Liu in 2005).
Mr. Bowers’ book alleges that the results of the sexual health test were sent to Alison Bozek, Fayed’s secretary.
However, Dr Reffell said sharing confidential patient information was a “red line” she would never cross.
“We just wouldn’t do it,” he said.
“For that we would have to have the patient’s consent.”
Dr Reffell said she was “horrified” by the revelations and expressed her sympathy for Fayed’s victims.
“I’m horrified to see my name mentioned,” he said.
“I felt cheated because patient confidentiality is a cornerstone of medicine.
“No information is disclosed and the only way to do so is if you have the patients’ permission.”
Dr Reffell (pictured) said she was “horrified” by the revelations and expressed sympathy for Fayed’s victims.
She added: “It’s very worrying because I work with women all the time, so confidentiality and care are really important.”
Known for scouring the aisles of Harrods in search of attractive young women to work with in his top-floor office, Fayed relentlessly courted and entertained high-ranking members of the Royal Family.
His film producer son, Dodi, was dating Princess Diana when the couple died in a car accident in 1997 in Paris.
Fayed’s insatiable appetite for harassing young women in his employment was facilitated and subsequently covered up by an army of highly paid security guards, lawyers, publicists and doctors.
Scotland Yard is understood to be actively pursuing those who may have helped Fayed carry out his crimes.
Another doctor, Ann Coxon, 84, is alleged to have carried out “invasive” and “totally unnecessary” STD checks on behalf of the disgraced billionaire.
The doctor, who still runs a clinic on London’s prestigious Harley Street, was named by Fayed’s victims.
But last week, when asked if she regretted working for the alleged sexual predator, she responded: “No, I don’t.”
One of Fayed’s victims, who is part of the Justice for Harrods survivors group, has told the bbc the “examinations performed by Dr. Coxon were intrusive and totally unnecessary.”
“They also led to many employees’ confidential medical information, including mine, being inappropriately shared at Harrods,” the victim added.
“This shouldn’t have happened.”
The victims’ group has reported Dr Coxon to the UK’s medical regulator, the General Medical Council.
Another doctor, Wendy Snell, who has since died, was also accused of telling another victim not to sleep with her boyfriend to be “clean” for Fayed.
In the photo: Fayed in 2018 aboard his yacht in St Tropez, on the French Riveria.
Dr Ann Coxon (pictured), accused of performing STD tests on Fayed employees, said she has no regrets working for him.
The victim, Gemma, said Al Fayed tried to convince her that she had a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
“But it was a ploy to keep me away from my boyfriend and make sure I would be clean for Al Fayed,” she added.
In a letter Gemma shared with The Mail on Sunday in the UK, Dr Snell, Harrods’ internal doctor at the time, wrote: “It is important that you do not have any sexual contact with your boyfriend until you have been treated and cleared “. of infection.”
Gemma, then 24 and raped by Fayed in Paris a month after starting work as a personal assistant at Harrods in 2008, suspected it was a trick.
He added: ‘Al-Fayed built this story that my boyfriend had given me an (STI).
“We had been together seven years… (We) went to our own GP, but they both gave us the all-clear.”