Alwaleed to pursue model and media over rape claims

Exonerated Saudi royal Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal has vowed to "vigorously pursue" legal action against the model and her legal team who made false rape claims against him, as well as media outlets who inaccurately reported on the story. Earlier today a Spanish court tossed out rape charges filed against Alwaleed, the Arab world's wealthiest individual, due to a lack of evidence. The unnamed model had claimed Alwaleed raped her while on his yacht in Ibiza in 2008. Then 20 years old, the woman had claimed she was drugged and taken aboard Alwaleed's yacht on the Spanish island. Alwaleed maintained he was not on the island at the time. The ruling of the Spanish court, which is situated in Palma de Mallorca, dismissed the case after being heard by three judges. This afternoon, in a lengthy statement released this afternoon, spokespeople for Alwaleed's office slammed "the disgraceful lies" of the media which reported on the case, as well as the "reprehensible" actions of the model, her family and legal team. “After today’s ruling, and to that end, we begin the process of holding those who concocted these disgraceful lies, including those in the news media that spread them without a single confirmed fact, fully responsible for their actions," said Heba Fatani, senior executive manager of corporate communications at Kingdom Holding Company, the company Alwaleed is chairman of. "His royal highness intends to ensure that those responsible are held accountable." Javier Sanchez-Vera Gómez-Trelles, partner at the firm Oliva-Ayala which represented the prince, added: "The actions on the part of the model, her mother and their lawyers are reprehensible. Actions have consequences and in order to discourage others from engaging in such scurrilous conduct in the future, the consequences must be severe. "We already are pursuing criminal actions against the model, her mother and her attorneys, as well as professional sanctions against the lawyers for their unethical behavior, all of which can now move forward. "We intend to vigorously pursue all legal options at our disposal and send a clear message that such unprincipled and base behavior is not acceptable and will not be tolerated in a civil society.” In May 2010, a judge in Ibiza ordered the case to be closed as it was short of evidence. However, courts later reopened the case, asking Saudi authorities for a statement from the prince.