Harrods, the luxury department store in London, has applied to local authorities to remove statues of its former owner, Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed, known as the “Egyptian Pharaoh,” from inside the store.

The store’s owning company submitted detailed plans to renovate its Egyptian-themed hall, including the five-story escalator currently adorned with busts of Al-Fayed depicted as a pharaoh.

This move follows a 2024 BBC documentary accusing more than 20 former Harrods employees of sexual assault by the Egyptian billionaire, who died in 2023 at the age of 94.

The police investigation, opened after the documentary aired, is still ongoing. London Metropolitan Police told CNN they are currently investigating allegations from over 140 alleged victims.

According to the documentary, one victim said she was assaulted at age 15 while Al-Fayed was 79. The alleged assaults occurred at multiple locations including Al-Fayed’s luxury apartment building in London, the Ritz Hotel in Paris which he owned, and the Windsor Villa in Paris he rented, previously the residence of former British King Edward VIII and his wife Wallis Simpson.

The store is currently settling claims from current and former employees and aims to erase Al-Fayed’s legacy within the store. The application submitted to the Kensington and Chelsea Council states that “the Egyptian escalator explicitly celebrates Al-Fayed, featuring 16 large statues of his face.”

It is worth noting that Harrods was sold by Al-Fayed to Qatar Investment Authority in 2010, and the store has clearly distanced itself from its former owner. In a statement on its website, the current owners described themselves as “deeply horrified” by the allegations, affirming that today’s Harrods is a “completely different institution” from the one controlled by Al-Fayed between 1985 and 2010.

According to the same statement, Al-Fayed, born in Alexandria, was inspired by his Egyptian heritage in renovating the store, where 16 large female heads inspired by the statue of Nefertiti alternate on the escalator levels, while other heads depict his own likeness.

The statement emphasized that “the sexual assault allegations have destroyed Al-Fayed’s reputation, and the large busts of him have become a visual reminder of his crimes.”

A Harrods spokesperson told CNN about the renovation plans, noting the store has been heavily investing since the change of ownership to restore its heritage while meeting modern retail demands.

As the building is historic and legally protected, any changes require lengthy assessments and coordination with multiple parties. The store accelerated the Egyptian escalator redevelopment project after listening to survivors’ views, submitted a planning approval request, and a decision is expected on October 22.

The store also reported that over 100 survivors have joined Harrods’ compensation program, receiving legal advice and financial compensation. The company is also considering legal action against Al-Fayed’s heirs.

In a statement released Thursday, Harrods’ owning company said it filed in June a request to the High Court to appoint professional executors to responsibly manage Mohamed Al-Fayed’s estate, allowing survivors not affiliated with Harrods to file claims directly against the heirs, and enabling the store to seek contribution in compensation paid for Al-Fayed’s actions.