Investigation into illegal fund-raising, money-laundering underway

Manama, June 14 (BNA): The Public Prosecution is currently investigating instances attributed to officials from Al-Risala Islamic Society, the Islamic Enlightenment Society (Al-Taweya) and Dar Al Yaqeen Library. In a statement issued today, the Public Prosecution said that the instances that constituted crimes included receiving and raising funds illegally, as well as money laundering. The Public Prosecution said it had been notified by the Financial Intelligence Directorate at the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security Directorate that the suspects had raised money in Bahrain and abroad in ways that were contrary to the provisions of the legal regulations in force. Following investigations into the matter, the Public Prosecution ordered the disclosure of the banking accounts of the officials of the two associations and the library, and the follow-up on their remittance and financial transactions, in order to gather the necessary evidence regarding the sources of the funds and the way they are spent. The Public Prosecution asserted that the implementation of its orders proved the conclusions of the security investigations. The suspects were also found to have spent the funds in their accounts in ways that breached the legal regulations. Based on the evidence, the Public Prosecution then ordered the reservation of the sums deposited in the suspects’ banking accounts. It also ordered the inspection of the headquarters of the two associations and the library to seize the records and documents related to the fund-raising.