A cash-for-honors controversy involving a Saudi billionaire who openly supports terrorist groups such as ISIS has pushed British police to initiate an inquiry into Prince Charles’ charity organisation.
“The result was found following an analysis of a September 2021 letter. Scotland Yard said in a statement on Wednesday that the probe was “connected to media reports that offers of assistance were made to secure citizenship for a Saudi person who is somehow associated to ISIS.”
According to authorities, no arrests or detentions have happened. The head of The Prince’s Foundation resigned following an internal review into the claims.
Following press disclosures regarding his ties to a questionable Saudi person, Michael Fawcett, the foundation’s chief executive retired temporarily.
The Saudi individual, businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, had provided dubious amounts to restoration projects in which Charles was particularly interested.
Fawcett, a former valet to the Prince of Wales who has long been close to Queen Elizabeth II’s heir, is entrusted with orchestrating attempts to confer a royal accolade and potentially British citizenship on Mahfouz.
The mysterious Mahfouz is claimed to have profited from Fawcett’s efforts by earning a royal honour and even British citizenship. Mahfouz, according to reports, has denied any misconduct on his side.
The royal family is still suffering from Prince Andrew’s decision on Tuesday to settle a sexual assault allegation out of court, a topic that has overshadowed Queen Elizabeth II’s Jubilee festivities thus far.
Charles’ charity, which purportedly supports unemployed individuals in regaining employment and creating small enterprises, takes the claims “extremely seriously”.
The newspaper reports that the probe will assess if “certain donations received by the Mahfouz Foundation were intended for charitable purposes, were used in accordance with the contributors’ desires, and should be returned to the donor or used for philanthropic purposes.”
The commission said that the Mahfouz Foundation was established in the United Kingdom “to promote and expand public education in the Saudi culture, history, Arabic language, literature, fanatic ideologies.”
The Prince’s Foundation, which was founded in 1986 and is registered with the Scottish Charity Regulator, is not regulated by the Charities Commission.
The Scottish government opened its own investigation in September after accusations that the charity received donations from a Russian banker previously convicted of money laundering.
Charles allegedly sent a letter praising Dmitry Leus for suggested they meet during the coronavirus outbreak.
After learning about Leus’ 2004 conviction in Russia, the foundation’s ethical panel refused the contribution.
He claims he was the victim of a politically motivated prosecution and that his conviction was overturned.
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