Galloway to be grilled by charity body

Published on Wednesday 21 December 2005 11:44

MAVERICK MP George Galloway was today facing a fresh probe into the charity appeal he set up to help an Iraqi girl suffering from leukaemia.

The Charity Commission confirmed last night that a new investigation had been launched into the Mariam Appeal, the 1 million political fund run by the 51-year-old politician.

The move comes on back of inquiries by the US Senate and the UN into the fund, which alleged that Mr Galloway's friend and associate Fawaz Zureikat had siphoned 252,000 from the UN's oil-for-food programme into the appeal.

The Jordanian businessman, who was chairman of the appeal fund, has refuted claims he made any arrangements connected to oil sales on behalf of Mr Galloway.

A spokesman for the charity watchdog said the new inquiry "will ascertain whether any funds donated to it originated from transactions conducted under the UN's oil-for-food programme. It will also establish what is the legal status of these funds and examine the extent to which the trustees discharged their duties."