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 The BBC's Jon Brain"Mr al-Fayed said it was unbelievable he was being asked such questions"  real 28k |
Al-Fayed's fury over cash withdrawal questions
Mohamed al-Fayed: Neil Hamilton asked for payments |
Questions over how Mohamed al-Fayed used huge amounts of cash withdrawn from his bank every week have prompted a furious response from the Harrods boss.
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The outburst came as he was cross-examined for a fifth day by Desmond Browne QC in Mr Hamilton's High Court libel action against him.
Mr Hamilton is suing Mr al-Fayed over a Channel 4 Dispatches programme in January 1997 in which the Harrods owner claimed the former Tatton MP had demanded and accepted cash payments, gift vouchers and a free holiday at the Paris Ritz, in return for asking parliamentary questions.
Mr al-Fayed, who denies libel and pleads justification, has said that Mr Hamilton received around £50,000 from him through a political lobbyist and direct cash sums of between £40,000 and £60,000.
 I suggest you used these enormous sums to lubricate your way through business  |
| Desmond Browne QC |
Mr al-Fayed said: "And this is your business? It is my business. You have bank statements. What is the question?"
Mr Browne said: "I suggest you used these enormous sums to lubricate your way through business, finding a way of easing your relations with other people by paying them sums of cash which you know they will not be accounting for, for tax."
Mr al-Fayed said this was "absolute rubbish", adding: "You have nothing to defend your client except attacking me unfairly, unlogically because you don't understand what type of person I am, what culture I come from, what commitments I have, how many people I employ ..."
Neil Hamilton, pictured with wife Christine, denies asking for cash |
Mr al-Fayed: "You have no basis for all this rubbish. You are just trying to ridicule me. I have a lot of commitments, big family, homes everywhere. I need the cash and it's none of your business.
"My personal cash is my personal life. It's none of your bloody business. It's my business. Get on with the subject and don't waste the time of everybody."
My personal cash is my personal life. It's none of your bloody business. It's my business |
| Mohamed al-Fayed |
On Thursday afternoon, Mr Browne said he had finished cross-examining the Harrods owner and added: "Thank you, Mr Fayed. For me, at any rate, it's been a memorable four-and-a-half days."
Mr al-Fayed replied: "Thank-you."
The hearing was adjourned until Friday when George Carman QC, for Mr al-Fayed, will re-examine his client.
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24 Nov 99 | UK |
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Al-Fayed 'persecuted Harrods staff' |
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23 Nov 99 | UK |
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Al-Fayed 'threatened John Major' |
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22 Nov 99 | UK |
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Al-Fayed challenges Duke to sue |
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24 Nov 99 | UK |
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Al-Fayed accused of false shipping claims |
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19 Nov 99 | UK |
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Al-Fayed fury over death crash remarks |
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