This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6732575.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Galloway criticised over appeal | Galloway criticised over appeal |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Charity Commission has criticised George Galloway and other Mariam Appeal trustees for failing to make sufficient inquiries into the source of donations. | |
| It found the appeal had received significant donations connected with improper transactions made under the Iraqi oil-for-food programme. | |
| It said they had not been sufficiently vigilant but that all the charity's money was spent on humanitarian aid. | |
| Respect MP Mr Galloway said the allegations were "palpably false". | |
| The Mariam Appeal was set up by Mr Galloway in 1998 to provide medicine and medical help to Iraqis suffering under Saddam Hussein's regime and under international sanctions. | The Mariam Appeal was set up by Mr Galloway in 1998 to provide medicine and medical help to Iraqis suffering under Saddam Hussein's regime and under international sanctions. |
| UN account | UN account |
| The oil-for-food programme was set up by the UN to enable Iraq to sell its oil to the world market in the period of the sanctions. | The oil-for-food programme was set up by the UN to enable Iraq to sell its oil to the world market in the period of the sanctions. |
| All money raised had to be paid into a UN-controlled account with the funds available to the Iraqi government only for humanitarian purposes and others permitted by the UN Security Council. | All money raised had to be paid into a UN-controlled account with the funds available to the Iraqi government only for humanitarian purposes and others permitted by the UN Security Council. |
| In its conclusions, published on its website, the commission says the appeal's known total income, from its inception in 1998 until it ceased operating in early 2003, was just under £1,468,000. | In its conclusions, published on its website, the commission says the appeal's known total income, from its inception in 1998 until it ceased operating in early 2003, was just under £1,468,000. |
| It says the appeal received at least $376,000 (£230,000) in improper donations. | It says the appeal received at least $376,000 (£230,000) in improper donations. |
| It maintains Jordanian businessman Fawaz Zureikat, who became chairman of the appeal in mid-2001, donated the money to the appeal using cash he had received from oil-for-food contracts. | It maintains Jordanian businessman Fawaz Zureikat, who became chairman of the appeal in mid-2001, donated the money to the appeal using cash he had received from oil-for-food contracts. |
| The trustees didn't ask any questions about where the money came from and we have concluded they didn't discharge their legal duties regarding these donations Andrew HindCharity Commission chief executive | The trustees didn't ask any questions about where the money came from and we have concluded they didn't discharge their legal duties regarding these donations Andrew HindCharity Commission chief executive |
| The commission states: "As Mr Zureikat made his donations to the appeal from commissions and other payments derived from the programme, the commission has concluded that these donations came from improper sources." | The commission states: "As Mr Zureikat made his donations to the appeal from commissions and other payments derived from the programme, the commission has concluded that these donations came from improper sources." |
| The commission found that the appeal trustees "did not make sufficient further enquiries as to the source of the funding" Mr Zureikat was providing. | The commission found that the appeal trustees "did not make sufficient further enquiries as to the source of the funding" Mr Zureikat was providing. |
| It concludes the trustees "did not properly discharge their duty of care". | It concludes the trustees "did not properly discharge their duty of care". |
| The commission also says that Mr Galloway may have known of the connection between the appeal and the oil-for-food programme. | The commission also says that Mr Galloway may have known of the connection between the appeal and the oil-for-food programme. |
| Andrew Hind, the commission's chief executive, said: "The trustees didn't ask any questions about where the money came from and we have concluded they didn't discharge their legal duties regarding these donations." | Andrew Hind, the commission's chief executive, said: "The trustees didn't ask any questions about where the money came from and we have concluded they didn't discharge their legal duties regarding these donations." |
| 'Sloppy and misleading' | 'Sloppy and misleading' |
| He added: "This is an issue as much as anything else about public trust and confidence in charities. It's not acceptable for charities to receive funds from improper sources." | He added: "This is an issue as much as anything else about public trust and confidence in charities. It's not acceptable for charities to receive funds from improper sources." |
| Mr Hind said it was for "other agencies" to decide whether the transactions were illegal under national or international law. | Mr Hind said it was for "other agencies" to decide whether the transactions were illegal under national or international law. |
| The Charity Commission is a civil regulator and does not have any powers of criminal prosecution. | The Charity Commission is a civil regulator and does not have any powers of criminal prosecution. |
| Mr Galloway and two other trustees - Sabah al-Muktar and Stuart Halford - deny any wrongdoing. | Mr Galloway and two other trustees - Sabah al-Muktar and Stuart Halford - deny any wrongdoing. |
| Mr Galloway called the report "sloppy, misleading and partial". | Mr Galloway called the report "sloppy, misleading and partial". |