The Charity Commission found trustee Canon Andrew White demonstrated a disregard for the standards and behaviours expected of him.
A British man known as the 'Vicar of Baghdad' has been found guilty of serious misconduct likely to cause significant damage to his charity's reputation and income. The Charity Commission concluded Canon Andrew White's actions put his organisation at risk and the trustee demonstrated a disregard for the standards and behaviours expected of him.
But the regulator found no evidence that he paid money to Islamic State to release hostages - allegations which he has called "rubbish". Canon White was accused of personally transferring money raised at a fundraising event for the charity's sister organisation, FRRME US, to IS to secure the release of the pair, believed to be Yazidi sex slaves.
At no time did I ever pay the terrorists for any sex slaves. Gaza ceasefire latest: Hamas releases two Israeli hostages as fragile ceasefire holds. Two Israeli hostages released in Gaza - but third not yet seen. These were the people who had been through hell", he added. Citing emails, the regulator said it appeared he had intended to secure the release of people from IS.
But the commission says it has not seen any evidence that terrorist financing occurred, or that if it did, it was financed with charitable funds. The inquiry said he "repeatedly failed to abide by financial controls put in place by the trustees", including trying to make payments to hire staff without seeking authorisation from trustees.
