Probe finds $10m

Manama : Close on the heels of its investigations against illegal societies, the Public Prosecution has found $10 million in Al Wefaq Islamic Society’s spiritual leader Shaikh Isa Qassim’s bank account, revealed legal sources yesterday.

The Public Prosecution is carrying out investigations against two local societies, and a local bookstore as well as individuals implicated in money laundering and illegal fundraising acts. 

A statement issued by the Public Prosecution indicated that a religious figure, Shaikh Isa Qassim, was found to have $10m in his bank account after the disclosure of it as part of the investigations. 

Meanwhile, Chief Pros-ecutor Mohammed Al Maliki announced in a statement yesterday that the Public Prosecution had completed its investigations into illegal fundraising and money laundering by officials of Al Risala Islamic Society, the Islamic Enlightenment Society (Al Taweya) and Dar Al Yaqeen Bookstore. 

“Investigations revealed that a terror convict, who is currently living in Iran, is in charge of Al Risala Islamic Society and is running it from abroad,” Al Maliki pointed out. 

He added that the Public Prosecution had summoned the remaining officials of the associations and the library, alongside those in charge of their premises, and interrogated them.

Charges included raising funds in ways that breached the legal regulations, and conducting banking operations to hide their sources and legitimise them. 

“Among those involved in such crimes is a religious figure, who, through the disclosure of his bank statements, was found to have about $10m,” Al Maliki said, adding that the Public Prosecution had ordered the reservation of that amount.

“The suspects had been released pending the completion of the investigations, which are still going on,” Al Maliki informed. 

“The Public Prosecution is also looking into other notifications it had received from the Financial Intelligence Directorate at the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security pertaining to individuals, who committed similar crimes,” the Chief Prosecutor added.