Commission needs stronger powers, says Counter Terrorism chair

Governance | Vibeka Mair | 1 Apr 2009

The Charity Commission has suspended a trustee and frozen the bank accounts of a Manchester-based charity following allegations of terrorism links.

An inquiry is now underway into Green Crescent Bangladesh UK, which funds a school and orphanage in Bangladesh where anti-terrorist police have discovered weapons, army uniforms, large quantities of ammunition and explosives.

It is understood that police in Bangladesh have also arrested the charity’s founder, Faisal Mostafa, a chemist from Greater Manchester. He has a previous conviction for possessing a firearm, and has twice been acquitted in UK courts of planning terrorist attacks.

The Commission’s inquiry will focus on whether funds raised on Green Crescent’s behalf have been used unlawfully and the role of the trustees in this. The inquiry will also consider the financial and governance practices of the charity, particularly its overseas activity.

Chief executive of the Charity Commission Andrew Hind said: “We are working with relevant law enforcement and other agencies to investigate the allegation that terrorist activity is connected with the charity. The matter is of serious concern to us, and we are taking this action given the gravity of the matter, the public interest and the need to protect charity work and funds.

“We intend, as is normal procedure, to publish a statement of the results of the inquiry setting out our findings once the inquiry is completed.”

Directory: Charity Commission
Who's Who: Vibeka Mair

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