Closed institutions face illegal fundraising charge

Manama: The authorities’ clamp down on violating political and Islamic societies that were involved in illegal fundraising and money-laundering practices yesterday included two associations and a library based in Diraz, Mahooz and Riffa, respectively.

Following the closure of Al Wefaq Islamic Society for fostering violence, extremism and harming national unity, investigations were launched into the behaviours of officials working at Al Risala Islamic Society in Mahooz, the Islamic Enlightenment (Al Taweya) Society in Diraz and Dar Al Yaqeen Library in
Riffa.

According to the Public Prosecution, the step was taken following a notification received 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 bank 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  necessary evidence regarding the sources of the funds and the way they are spent.

“The Public Prosecution asserts 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,” the prosecution statement added.