Two women who allege they were sexually assaulted by Mohamed al Fayed have said a doctor who they claim carried out intrusive medical examinations on his employees has “massive questions to answer”.
Speaking on The UK Tonight With Sarah-Jane Mee, Catherine and Natacha, who were both 19 when they started working at Harrods in 1989, alleged Dr Ann Coxon “knew” the tests were being carried out for the former Harrods boss so he could assault them.
Natacha said she has reported Dr Coxon to the General Medical Council (GMC) and Catherine has said she will do the same.
The pair also claimed to have witnessed an incident where Fayed made another female employee kneel on all fours and “bray like a donkey”.
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Five women who used to work at the luxury department store have alleged they were raped by Fayed. More than 100 women have come forward to say they were assaulted or to give evidence to lawyers. Police are appealing for any “potential victim survivors” to come forward so they can investigate.
Natacha and Catherine alleged they were subjected to a “full gynaecological medical” by Dr Coxon as a condition for them working for Fayed.
After a round of standard medical tests, Catherine claimed Dr Coxon persuaded her a “tip-to-toe” medical “included a gynaecological [test] because we were women”.
But she said the examination “went further” and included HIV and STD tests. Catherine said it was “just ridiculous now in hindsight that we still at that point didn’t really understand what was ahead of us”.
‘We still at that point didn’t really understand what was ahead of us,’ says Catherine
Natacha said Dr Coxon “has massive questions to answer”.
“She carried out wholly unnecessary medical examinations, which were so intrusive, for Mohamed al Fayed, and shared our results within Harrods, which is totally inappropriate.”
A spokesperson for the GMC said: “The alleged sexual abuse conducted by Mohamed Al Fayed against multiple women is horrifying.
“The allegations relating to medical staff working for Mr Al Fayed are deeply concerning. If we identify any potential fitness to practise concerns about individual doctors, we will thoroughly examine all relevant information and take action as appropriate.”
Sky News has contacted Dr Coxon for comment.
Catherine and Natacha also described an incident where they saw another employee who was made to kneel on all fours and pretend to be a donkey.
“She was being asked to bray like a donkey and to kick out like a donkey,” Natacha said. “Fayed was going: ‘Bray harder. Bray harder.’ She had tears running down her face.”
Catherine said: “It was one of the most shocking things I’ve ever witnessed. We were petrified.
“It was a very terrifying atmosphere and he was laughing at her and just completely humiliating her.”