New abuse allegations filed in civil suit against Saudi prince

Three female workers who accused a Saudi prince of attacking them inside a compound on the edge of Beverly Hills said in court papers that they feared for their lives and tried to escape the home at least three times after he threatened to kill them and yelled, “I am a prince and I do what I want! You are nobody!�

The new allegations were contained in an amended complaint filed Thursday about the three days in September when the women performed housekeeping and food service duties for Majed Abdulaziz Al-Saud and his entourage while he was visiting Los Angeles.

“Perpetrators of abuse often use humiliation, shame and fear to induce silence,� the women’s attorney Van Frish said. “It’s unfortunate that Mr. Al-Saud’s criminal defense attorney publicly accused our clients of a “shakedown� and fabricating their horrifying experience. Our clients refuse to allow Mr. Al-Saud or his attorneys to humiliate them and publicly shame them into silence.�

The women, who were identified only as Jane Does in court filings, said they were held against their will and forced to work for Al-Saud as he assaulted, sexually harassed and belittled them in front of guests and other employees.

In the latest complaint, one of the women said Al-Saud sat on her and aggressively rubbed his body against her on Sept. 22. She said he kicked her knee and violently grabbed her arm, leaving bruises on her thigh and nail marks on her wrist, according to the lawsuit.

Another woman said he violently grabbed her arm 10 times, telling her, “I like you,� according to the lawsuit.

That same day, the women tried to escape from a balcony three times because Al-Saud had become belligerent after drinking heavily and using drugs, they said in the lawsuit.

“Trapped on the balcony, plaintiffs began to cry, they were sure that Al-Saud would kill them,� according to the lawsuit.

Al-Saud’s attorney did not immediately return multiple requests for comment on the new allegations.

The latest court filing comes after the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office declined to file felony charges against Al-Saud, 29, on Monday for an alleged sexual assault, citing insufficient evidence. The case was referred to the L.A. city attorney’s office, which could charge him with a misdemeanor.

Al-Saud was arrested Sept. 23 after a female worker accused him of trying to force her to perform a sex act on him inside a Beverly Glen residence he was renting, police said. Police alleged there were multiple victims. Days later, the three women sued him in civil court.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and alleges emotional distress, assault and battery, sexual discrimination and retaliation against the workers.

Times staff writer Joseph Serna contributed to this report.

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