A prominent Saudi Arabian princess tried to leave the Shangri-La Hotel in Paris on Friday (June 1) morning without paying a US $7.4 million bill, according to media reports.
Newswire AFP, citing French daily Le Parisien, reported that Maha Al-Sudairi, the ex-wife of Saudi Crown Prince and deputy prime minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz – who is second-in-line to the throne - fled the luxury hotel in the French capital, where she had booked out a 41-room floor for herself and her entourage of 60 since December 23, at 3.30am on Friday morning without paying the bill
According to media reports, police were called, but under diplomatic immunity she could not be charged or arrested for the offence. Instead, French police are said to be liaising with the Saudi Arabian embassyfor the account to be settled.
While French police confirmed the report, when contacted by AFP, the hotel’s director, Alain Borgers, said that there were “no problems” with its clients and “no unpaid bills”
The Princess has reportedly been offered refuge in the Royal Monceau hotel, near the Champs-Elysees, which is owned by family friend the Emir of Qatar.
Maha Al-Sudairi has claimed diplomatic immunity prior to this in France after luxury Parisian store Key Largo said it was suing her over €70,000 in unpaid shopping bills. Her lawyer later said she had settled with the store after bailiffs turned up at her hotel.
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