British police said on Wednesday they had opened an investigation into Prince Charles’ charity foundation over complaints of a cash-for-honors scandal involving a Saudi businessman.
“The decision undergoes an assessment of a letter from September 2021. This related to media report suspected offers of help were made to obtain honors and citizenship for a saudi national”said Scotland Yard in a statement, dealing another blow to the royal family.
There were no arrests or bail interviews, the police added.
the head of The Prince’s Foundation resigned last year after an internal investigation into the allegations.
Michael Fawcett, Managing Director of the foundation had initially agreed to suspend its functions following the revelations of newspapers about its links with a Saudi national.
The man, tycoon Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, had donated large sums to restoration projects of a particular interest for Charles.
Fawcett, a former servant of the Prince of Wales who was close to the heir of Queen Elizabeth II for decades, allegedly coordinated efforts to grant royal honor and even British citizenship to Mahfouz.
Mahfouz reportedly denied any wrongdoing.
the regal family is already in shock after Prince Andrew decision on Tuesday to settle a complaint of sexual abuse out of court, a scandal that has so far overshadowed Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Charles’ foundationwhich helps the unemployed people to have back in work and start small companies, he says took statements “very seriously”.
The Charities Commission, which registers and oversees charities in England and Wales, said in November, he had opened a formal investigation into donations received by Mahfouz’s charitable trust which were intended for The princes foundation.
The investigation will examine whether “certain donations received by the Mahfouz Foundation were intended for the charity, were used in compliance with donors intentions and if they should be returned to the donor or otherwise applied for for charitable purposes.”
According to the commission, the Mahfouz Foundation was set up “Promoting and advancing education of the public in Great Britain in Culture, historylanguageliterature and institutions of Middle East.”
The Prince’s Foundation, set up in 1986, is not regulated by the Charities Commission but is registered with the Scottish charities regulator.
Scottish body in September has launched its own investigation into reports that the foundation accepted cash of a previously convicted Russian banker of money laundering.
Charles allegedly wrote a letter thanking Dmitry Leus for the money and suggested they could meet after the coronavirus pandemic.
the foundationethics committee declined the donation after discovering Leus’ conviction in Russia in 2004.
Conviction was overturned and he claimed he was the victim of a politically motivated prosecution.
