Prince Charles Foundation director resigns following suspicious donation from Russian banker

The director of the charitable foundation created by Prince Charles resigned on Wednesday following revelations in the British press that the organization had accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Russian banker seeking British nationality.

The Scottish Charity Regulator, an independent body which regulates the activity of charities in Scotland, has launched a investigation after some newspapers claimed the Prince of Wales wrote a letter thanking Dmitri Leous for his offer to donate more than 500,000 pounds ($ 692,000) to his foundation last year.

The heir to the British throne would have proposed a meeting, once the coronavirus pandemic is over, with this little-known Russian businessman.

According to the newspaper Sunday opening hours, The Prince’s Foundation, based in Scotland, initially received £ 100,000, but its ethics committee reportedly rejected the full amount, concerned about the source of the funds.

Its director, Douglas Connell, said he was “surprised and appalled by the press reports that dishonest activities could have taken place inside and outside the foundation”.

“Neither I nor the other members of the board of directors were aware of such activities and we launched a rigorous and independent investigation,” he said. Connell, who has denied any wrongdoing, nevertheless resigned under pressure.

His departure comes ten days after a former collaborator of Prince Charles resigned “temporarily” from his post as CEO of the same foundation during an investigation into his links with a Saudi businessman.

It is suspected that Michael Fawcett, Carlos’ former valet, used his influences to help Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, a generous donor to charities linked to the British monarchy, to win an award. ., according to Sunday opening hours and the Mail on Sunday.

According to Sunday time, Mahfouz, 51, was appointed commander of the British Empire by Prince Charles in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace in November 2016, an event that was not published on the official list of royal engagements.

Last week Clarence House, who handles communications for Prince Charles, said he “fully supports the ongoing investigation at the foundation.”

With information from AFP

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