Select Committee on Standards and Privileges First Report


APPENDIX 11

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 IRIS HELEN BOND

I, Iris Helen Bond, c/o 60 Park Lane, London, W1Y 3TG, will say as follows:

  1. I am a secretary in Mr Al-Fayed's office at 60 Park Lane, a position I have held since 1979. During the course of my work I was aware that Mr Ian Greer was retained by Mr Al-Fayed as an advisor, subsequent to Mr Al-Fayed's acquisition of House of Fraser.

  2. Ian Greer Associates would send invoices to the 60 Park Lane offices for payment. These invoices would then be forwarded to the accounts department for payment. In addition to payments made pursuant to invoices, Mr Greer would also receive cash payments.

  3. I have been shown a copy of a transcript of an entry from Mr Al-Fayed's telephone message book dated 4 November 1988 which reads "you owe July, August, September £5,000 - Iris tell AF." This confirms my recollection that quarterly payments of £5,000 in cash were made to Ian Greer.

  4. On these occasions I would then inform Mr Al-Fayed that either Ian Greer or his secretary had telephoned asking for payment. Mr Al-Fayed would in my presence place two bundles of £2,500 notes in £50 denominations in a plain envelope which he would then instruct me to deliver to Mr Greer. I would then arrange for a porter to deliver the envelope to Mr Greer at his office, although sometimes Mr Greer personally collected these envelopes from the reception desk at 60 Park Lane and I believe on some occasions he arranged for a courier to make collection.

  5. Mr Neil Hamilton was a frequent visitor to Mr Al-Fayed's office at 60 Park Lane. Initially most of the meetings were at 60 Park Lane although I am aware that he subsequently met Mr Al-Fayed at Harrods. The Park Lane meetings were at one time as frequent as several times a month. Apart from these meetings Mr Hamilton telephoned Mr Al-Fayed at 60 Park Lane on numerous occasions and they conversed. On the occasions that Mr Al-Fayed was not available I would inform Mr Al-Fayed of Mr Hamilton's calls. Mr Hamilton's wife, Christine, would also call to arrange meetings between Mr Al-Fayed and her husband.

  6. I remember on several occasions that prior to a meeting with Mr Hamilton, Mr Al-Fayed would make a remark to the effect that he was coming to collect his money and would prepare an envelope for him with a bundle of £2,500 notes in my presence.

  7. I also remember an occasion when Mr Al-Fayed telephoned me from Harrods and told me to bring £5,000 in cash as he was expecting Mr Hamilton to meet him there.

  8. As with Ian Greer there was at least one occasion when I left an envelope containing cash at the reception at 60 Park Lane for collection by Mr Neil Hamilton.

  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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