French police have launched an investigation into sex-trafficking linked to the disgraced businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, who died two years ago.
The investigation, ordered by the Paris prosecutor's office, will focus on potential acts of aggravated human trafficking... with multiple victims, according to correspondence seen by the BBC. Prostitution and one case of rape are also being investigated.
Al Fayed's Ritz Hotel in Paris will likely be a target of the investigation, amid claims from victims that staff knew about or facilitated the abuse of women.
In a statement, the Ritz said it was deeply alarmed by the allegations and would cooperate fully with authorities.
The trafficking investigation marks a new twist in a series of legal battles linked to Al Fayed's violent crimes and to the search – both before and since his death – for some sort of justice for his many victims.
An American woman, Pelham Spong, 40, played a key role in triggering this investigation in France, where it is alleged that Al Fayed moved young female staff from the Ritz to his private house in Paris and to various yachts and family homes on the Mediterranean coast.
Ms Spong was living in Paris in 2008 when she sought a job as a personal assistant for the Al Fayed family and alleges she was sexually assaulted by Al Fayed.
He told me the job entailed sleeping with him, she stated during her interview.
A few months ago, Ms Spong came back to Paris to inform the police of her experiences, hoping it might inspire other women to come forward. Her lawyer believes she has a strong case due to the materials she has preserved.
Al Fayed is also under investigation in the UK, with over 140 people reporting him to the Met Police. The extent of his predatory behavior was first revealed in a BBC documentary, leading to many women coming forward with their experiences of abuse.
