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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