Jon Brilliant, a former director at Harrods, claims Mohamed Al Fayed tried to use cash bribes to control him.
- Brilliant worked in Al Fayed’s private office for 18 months and described a culture of fear and control.
- He reported being given up to £39,000 to compromise him, and was fired for refusing to comply.
- Brilliant suggested others were entrapped by Al Fayed’s financial manoeuvres.
- Surveillance and secrecy were part of the management structure to suppress dissent.
Jon Brilliant, formerly a director at Harrods, has come forward with allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed, the store’s previous owner. Brilliant claims that Al Fayed attempted to control him through cash bribes, describing a system where envelopes filled with money were used to exert influence over employees. According to Brilliant, this approach was part of an overarching effort to maintain control over senior staff members.
During his 18-month tenure in Al Fayed’s private office, Brilliant asserts that he was handed cash totalling up to £39,000. This tactic, he alleged, was aimed at compromising individuals, prompting them to act under Al Fayed’s interests. “He tried to own you. And ultimately, I got fired because I couldn’t be bought,” stated Brilliant in an interview, underscoring his personal experience with these control methods.
Brilliant’s allegations suggest a deliberate environment fostered by Al Fayed, where fear and pressure were used to manage employees. He indicated that those who accepted the financial inducements were often later blackmailed or manipulated, with their actions scrutinised to maintain compliance. Brilliant mentioned that there were others who succumbed to these tactics, saying, “I am certainly aware of people who… succumbed to the temptation.”
Furthermore, he described a workplace culture marked by surveillance and sackings, implying that senior staff were discouraged from communicating openly to prevent collective dissent. “I 100% can see how the management structure and culture was set up to cover [Fayed’s abuse] up, mask it from people,” he explained, providing insight into the alleged restrictive environment under Al Fayed’s management.
These allegations paint a picture of a controlled environment at Harrods under Mohamed Al Fayed, marked by financial manipulation and a culture of fear.
