In a brief statement, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that on September 6 officers interviewed a man in his 50s and a man in his 40s under caution in relation to offenses under the Prices (Prevention of Abuse) Act 1925. The force launched the investigation in February after media reports alleged offers of help were made to secure honors and citizenship for a Saudi national. In September last year, the Sunday Times published claims that billionaire Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz paid tens of thousands of pounds to repairers with links to Charles who had told him they could secure the price. Bin Mahfouz was awarded a CBE at a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace in November 2016. When the allegations emerged, the Prince’s Foundation launched an internal investigation, which in turn led to one of Charles’ former closest associates, Michael Fawcett, 59, temporarily stepping down as the foundation’s chief executive. On Friday, the Met gave a brief statement to the Guardian, which said: “On Tuesday 6 September, police interviewed a man in his 50s and a man in his 40s under caution in relation to honor offenses (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925.” The Met previously said it had received a letter in September last year about the media reports and, following further inquiries, launched an investigation into allegations of offenses under the Honors (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925. Bin Mahfouz has been one of the biggest donors to Charles’ charities and even has a forest named after him, Mahfouz Forest, at the 15th century May Castle, formerly the home of the Queen Mother and now one of Charles’ residences in Scotland. Donations of more than £1.5 million have helped to fund renovations to homes used by Charles and other charitable projects. The Prince’s Foundation publicly lists Mahfouz as a patron. The Met said officers had contacted the Prince’s Foundation about the findings of the independent investigation into its fundraising practices.
