Select Committee on Standards and Privileges First Report


APPENDIX 10

Consolidated pursuant to order of Sir Michael Davies dated 28 April 1995

1994-H-No-1654

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION
BETWEEN
(1) NEIL HAMILTON

Plaintiff

and
(1) DAVID HENCKE
(2) PETER PRESTON
(3) GUARDIAN NEWSPAPERS LIMITED

Defendants


1994-G-No-1776

I N THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION
BETWEEN
(1) IAN GREER
(2) IAN GREER ASSOCIATES LIMITED

Plaintiffs

and
(1) DAVID HENCKE
(2) PETER PRESTON
(3) GUARDIAN NEWSPAPERS LIMITED

Defendants



WITNESS STATEMENT OF ALISON BOZEK

I, Alison Bozek, c/o Allen and Overy, 1 New Change, London will say as follows:

  1. I was a Personal Assistant to Mr Al-Fayed in his office at 60 Park Lane between March 1981 and September 1994. I left that position to pursue a legal career and began a legal practice course in September 1994. I am presently a trainee solicitor with the law firm Allen and Overy.

  2. I first met Mr Ian Greer in late 1985 or early 1986 when he came for meetings with Mr Al-Fayed at his office in 60 Park Lane. I understood that Mr Greer was retained as an advisor following the acquisition of House of Fraser by the Fayeds.

  3. I am aware that, in addition to payments made to Mr Greer following receipt of invoices from his office, Mr Greer would also receive cash. Sums of £5,000 in cash were paid to Mr Greer on a quarterly basis. In addition to these quarterly amounts, I also recall that other cash payments were made to Mr Greer. Both my colleague Iris Bond and I were responsible for arranging for these cash payments at various times.

  4. Mr Greer would often phone and ask me whether Mr Al-Fayed had left an envelope for him. Sometimes he would ask bluntly whether Mr Al-Fayed had his money ready. I would on these occasions tell Mr Al-Fayed that Mr Greer had phoned and he would then, in my presence, put £50 notes, made up in bundles of £2,500, in an envelope which he would then either give to me to arrange for delivery to Mr Greer or hold ready for his meeting with him. Sometimes Mr Al-Fayed expressed annoyance with Mr Greer's request for money by saying that he was fed up with Mr Greer asking for cash and would make him wait for his money. Mr Greer was, however, very persistent and would sometimes phone four or five times asking for the envelope.

  5. Mr Al-Fayed would occasionally ask me to remind him to get an envelope for Mr Greer in preparation for a meeting with him. On occasion, Mr Al-Fayed would ask me to place amounts of cash in an envelope for Mr Greer and I recall putting amounts of between £2,000 and £5,000 in envelopes at various times. On several occasions I delivered an envelope containing cash to the reception desk at 60 Park Lane to await collection by Mr Greer.

  6. I first met Mr Neil Hamilton in about 1987 when he visited Mr Al-Fayed at his 60 Park Lane office. Mr Hamilton came to Park Lane quite often to see Mr Al-Fayed usually about once every four to six weeks, although there were times when the visits may have been as frequent as once a week.

  7. Mr Hamilton phoned the office on numerous occasions enquiring whether Mr Al-Fayed had an envelope ready for him. If an envelope was prepared by either Mr Al-Fayed or me, I would tell Mr Hamilton and he would come over to 60 Park Lane to pick it up. If no envelope was ready, I would inform Mr Al-Fayed of Mr Hamilton's call and Mr Al-Fayed would, in my presence, place cash in an envelope for me to arrange for delivery to Mr Hamilton, or instruct me to get an envelope and place the cash in the envelope for Mr Hamilton. This happened on several occasions. These envelopes were taken to the reception desk at 60 Park Lane marked with my initials on the back for collection by Mr Hamilton.

  8. Mr Hamilton was as persistent as Mr Greer, if not more so, in asking for his envelope. He would sometimes phone saying that he would be stopping by at very short notice to pick up the envelope.

  9. I remember an occasion when Mr Hamilton telephoned me and told me that Mr Al-Fayed had said that he should visit the Ritz Hotel in Paris and that his wife, Christine, would be in touch to make the necessary arrangements. It was clear to me that Mr Hamilton was asking for a room at the hotel; he made no mention of staying at Mr Al-Fayed's private apartment. I checked with Mr Al-Fayed and he told me to phone Mr Hamilton and find out when he wished to visit the Ritz Hotel. Before I had a chance to phone, Mrs Christine Hamilton telephoned me and told me the dates they intended to travel to Paris. I then booked a room at the hotel for the Hamiltons through the hotel manager. Prior to Mr Hamilton's departure for Paris, Mr Al-Fayed asked me to leave an envelope containing between £2,000 and £3,000 at the reception desk at 60 Park Lane for his trip. Mr Hamilton collected the envelope from the reception desk at 60 Park Lane.

  10. I confirm that the contents of this statement are true to the best of my knowledge, information and belief.

27 September 1996



 
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Prepared 8 July 1997