George Michael’s ex Fadi Fawaz has been arrested after ‘squatting’ at the late singer’s London mansion. Fadi, 46, had been squatting in the £5 million Regent’s Park property – which was left to George’s sisters in his will – since George’s death on Christmas Day 2016. And on 23 July, he was arrested on suspicion of aggravated criminal damage, and was pictured being led into a police van in handcuffs after resisting arrest. In pictures from the incident, the hairdresser – dressed in a white shirt and grey trousers – was led away with his arms behind his back by a number of policeman, who had parked a van outside the London mansion. Before his arrest, Fadi was seen leaning against the wall with a football beside him as two police officers stood watch.
According to sources, Fawaz was shouting: ‘I am not going there, I am not going there, I am staying here, I want to stay here.’ Police said that officers were initially called out to the property following reports of a man on the roof, which had suffered ‘extensive damage’. After arriving at the home at 7pm last night, officers then called firefighters, who arrived at 8.24pm to help clear up leaking water. A Met Police spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘Police were called on Tuesday, 23 July at around 19:00 hours to a report of man seen on the roof of an address in Park Village Mews, NW1. ‘Officers attended and the man was no longer on the roof but inside the address, which had extensive damage.
‘Due to the damage inside the property the London Fire Brigade attended. ‘The man, aged in his mid-40s, has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated criminal damage. ‘He has been taken into custody at a north London police station.’ George’s family had reportedly been sending legal letters asking Fadi to leave the house, but he has allegedly ignored the notices due to ‘squatters rights’.
A source close to the late singer’s family told The Sun in May: ‘Fadi is being a real pain about all this. ‘He has refused to leave despite several letters and requests in the last 18 months. He is blanking them out and it appears he now has squatters rights.’ The insider added: ‘It’s been going on for such a long time that it’s hard to know what to do next. The lawyers are seeing what can be done. It would be a lot easier if Fadi just upped sticks and left.’ It is claimed that Fadi was arguing that he was was given permission to live in the house by George before his death aged 53.
Fadi’s arrest comes just over a week after he was accused of ‘going berserk’ and smashing windows and lights in the home – however, he claimed he was ‘renovating’. Last month, it was revealed that Fadi, who was in a relationship with the Faith singer for four years, had been left out of George’s £98 million will. George’s beloved sisters Melanie and Yioda received an equal share of all the star’s major assets, including his two London homes while his father Kyriacos, or Jack, has been left a horse racing stud, where he has lived for a number of years.
