UK MP George Galloway could face a new inquiry into the finances of an appeal he set up to help a sick Iraqi girl. The Charity Commission has said it will contact US senators investigating claims Mr Galloway was given credits for Iraqi oil by Saddam Hussein.The UK body is keen to see US evidence concerning Mr Galloway's Mariam Appeal.
| And we just happen to have a transcript available. |
Mr Galloway received a jubilant welcome on Wednesday evening as hundreds of
On Tuesday, Mr Galloway accused the US Senate investigations sub-committee of being "cavalier" with justice during his appearance in Washington. He said the Commission's inquiry into the appeal, set up in 1998 to help a four-year-old Iraqi girl with leukaemia, had recovered "all money in and all money out".
However, the head of legal services for the Charity Commission, Kenneth Dibble, said there had been "limitations" on its investigation. Some of the records for the appeal had been taken out of the country by its then chairman, Jordanian businessman Fawaz Zureikat, Mr Dibble told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. This meant investigators had to "reconstruct" the income and expenditure of the appeal fund by looking at its bank accounts, he said.
"With the help of the trustees... we were able to establish at least that the majority of the monies were applied for purposes that were charitable," he said. The Charity Commission has now asked to see the US senators' evidence in order to establish if further action is needed.
Mr Dibble said: "We would have to consider whether or not they were aware of any improper nature of funds coming to the charity if indeed we find there is evidence to support that."
| How about all of George's "expenses"? |