Saudi owner of Savoy Hotel to be interviewed over rape claims - Telegraph.co.uk
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, 56, who has an estimated fortune of $19.4 billion (£12.3 billion), making him the 26th richest man in the world according to Forbes, and is the nephew of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, could also be called before an investigating judge on the Balearic island of Ibiza and asked to give a DNA sample as part of the investigation.
The alleged victim, a woman identified only as Soraya, claims she was lured onto the superyacht Turama – a 384ft vessel available for charter at around 90,000 euros (£78,000) a day – after her drink was spiked in the VIP zone of a well-known nightclub on the island.
But Prince Alwaleed, the second largest investor in Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, denies the assault or even having visiting Ibiza in the last decade.
The prince, who bought the Savoy in 2005 for £250m and was linked to a £100m bid for Everton Football Club earlier this year, could have been mistakenly identified as the perpetrator of the assault after someone impersonated him, his spokesman claimed.
The victim, who was 20 years-old at the time, claims that she woke up during a sexual assault on the boat by a man she claimed was the Saudi prince. Forensic tests turned up traces of semen and the sedative nordazepam was found in her urine.
An investigating magistrate halted an investigation into the allegations last year on grounds of insufficient evidence. But on appeal the higher, provincial court in Palma on the island of Majorca instructed the judge to reopen the case and question the prince.
A spokesman from the Prince's investment arm, Kingdom Holding Company said the allegations were "completely and utterly false".
"The alleged encounter simply never happened," said Heba Fatani. "Not only was HRH Prince Alwaleed not in Ibiza at any time in 2008 but has not been in Ibiza for the last decade.
"Further his yacht, Kingdom 5KR was not in Ibiza in 2008 nor has Prince Alwaleed ever chartered a yacht in Ibiza. He was nowhere near Ibiza when the alleged events took place. He was in the presence of dozens of people at that time, including his family, and not in Spain."
She added that it could be a case of someone impersonating the Prince.
"There have been many examples of people impersonating Prince Alwaleed over the internet and elsewhere for their own purposes. One can suppose a young person in Ibiza might be fooled by such a fraud."
The lawyer acting for the alleged victim said he would expect the prince to be asked to provide a DNA sample.
"The Prince should come to court in Ibiza and provide at least a DNA sample to compare it with traces of semen found in my client," said Javier Beloqui. "If he is innocent, it is all over and if not, he will be charged with rape. It is as simple as that."
The lawyer questioned the decision to drop the case last year, given the forensic evidence, and seriousness of the crime.
Court documents seen by The Daily Telegraph said the victim had sent a text to a friend at just after 5am on the morning of the alleged attack on August 13 2008, in which she said: "I did not drink much but I think something was put in my drink".
14 Sep, 2011--
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGFTNiS31Pi_zFXMC4P2VAV3G2Jng&url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/8762694/Saudi-owner-of-Savoy-Hotel-to-be-interviewed-over-rape-claims.html
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