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Discuss this article (3 Comments)Paris bailiffs chase Saudi princess for unpaid bills
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Saturday, 13 June 2009
UNPAID BILLS: George V hotel is owned by Sudairi's nephew Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal. (Getty Images)
A Saudi princess alleged to have run up unpaid bills worth millions of euros in a Paris shopping spree has agreed to settle a $125,000 tab after bailiffs turned up at her hotel, a lawyer said.
Upmarket clothes store Key Largo filed suit in a Paris court this week against Maha Al Sudairi, wife of Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz, over an outstanding bill of 89,000 euros (125,000 dollars).
Bailiffs turned up on Friday at the luxury George V hotel, which is owned by Sudairi's nephew Prince Alwaleed bin Talal , after a court order authorised the seizure of her belongings, the store's lawyer Jacky Benazerah said late Friday.
"The Saudi Arabian consul was called out in person," he said.
French media reported the princess was holed up in her room at the four-star hotel just off the Champs Elysees while her staff wrangled with the bailiffs, although the George V would not confirm she was on the premises.
After three hours of talks, the princess' aides had handed over a guaranteed cheque of 89,000 euros, with a pledge the money would be transferred by Wednesday, said the lawyer.
Benazareh said he was told the bills went unpaid due to an oversight by her staff.
But the Saudi princess is alleged to have left a trail of unpaid bills at top Parisian locations including one for 10 million euros at the Crillon hotel, according to French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche.
Benazareh said Paris jewellers Chaumet has also taken legal action against the princess. The Journal du Dimanche says the store is owed more than 600,000 euros.
The manager of luxury lingerie store "Aux caprices de Lili," which is just opposite the George V, told AFP the princess had run up a slate of 70,000 euros' worth of designer underwear, silk bathrobes and swimwear.
READERS' COMMENTS
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Princess's spending spree
Posted by Carmi, DUBAI, UAE on Monday 15 June 2009 at 14:31 UAE time
Well Simply NM the arrogance this princess has shown to the people she purchased goods and services from has split over onto you with the comment you just made. Does her status give her the right to buy and not pay. Underneath all the glamour and money she is just another human being like us all. Only if we had the kind of money she has we would have paid promptly for the things we buy. She must feel like she doesn't have to bother with mundane things like that.
Posted by Carmi, DUBAI, UAE on Monday 15 June 2009 at 14:31 UAE time
Well Simply NM the arrogance this princess has shown to the people she purchased goods and services from has split over onto you with the comment you just made. Does her status give her the right to buy and not pay. Underneath all the glamour and money she is just another human being like us all. Only if we had the kind of money she has we would have paid promptly for the things we buy. She must feel like she doesn't have to bother with mundane things like that.
Greedy Bailiffs: Dont Pay up!!! - response
Posted by John Thomas, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 14 June 2009 at 08:22 UAE time
Response to Simply NM:
Which world do you live in?? - These retailers extended this lady credit in good faith, yes they should get their money back!! and if they didn't she should face the courts and have her belongings seized like any other person!! Hello!!!!
Posted by John Thomas, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 14 June 2009 at 08:22 UAE time
Response to Simply NM:
Which world do you live in?? - These retailers extended this lady credit in good faith, yes they should get their money back!! and if they didn't she should face the courts and have her belongings seized like any other person!! Hello!!!!
Greedy Bailiffs: Dont Pay up!!!
Posted by Simply NM, Sharjah on Saturday 13 June 2009 at 23:06 UAE time
Its baffling that retailers would sell goods running into thousands of euros on credit only to make media meals of it. The only explanation would be greed. I urge the Saudi Royal family to refuse payment!! The retailers deserve everuthing they get as the miscalculation is their own error of judgment or better still outright greed. Yes men deserve no mercy!!!
Posted by Simply NM, Sharjah on Saturday 13 June 2009 at 23:06 UAE time
Its baffling that retailers would sell goods running into thousands of euros on credit only to make media meals of it. The only explanation would be greed. I urge the Saudi Royal family to refuse payment!! The retailers deserve everuthing they get as the miscalculation is their own error of judgment or better still outright greed. Yes men deserve no mercy!!!
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