Sydney religious leader allegedly defrauded Islamic organisations

Police will allege a Sydney religious leader raised more than $100,000 for charities from Islamic organisations – but instead kept the money for himself.

UPDATE

An Imam for a southwest Sydney mosque has denied allegations he stole money from an Islamic organisation which he created to raise money for overseas charities. 

Jasmin Bekric, 55, faces seven counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, three counts of making false or misleading statements for benefit, and one count of possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit.

Bekric was the Imam of the Smithfield Mosque but handed in his resignation following his arrest on October 1.

He did not appear at Bankstown Local Court on Thursday for his first appearance.

His lawyer entered early not guilty pleas to all charges via email in his absence.

Police allege Bekric established a religious council and raised more than $100,000 from Islamic community groups, which was intended for overseas charities in Bosnia.

However, the money was never passed on, police allege.  

He will appear before Bankstown Local Court again on December 9. 

UPDATE ON OCTOBER 20, 2021

A southwest Sydney mosque Imam has been stood down after being hit with fraud charges.

Jasmin Bekric, 55, former Imam of the Smithfield Mosque was charged on October 1 with seven counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, and three counts of making false or misleading statements for authority or benefit, as well as possessing a prohibited weapon.

He will appear in court for the first time on Thursday (October 21).

A letter posted to the Smithfield Mosque Facebook page from the Australian Islamic Society of Bosnia Herzegovina (AISBH) in the days following his arrest, confirmed the Imam’s resignation.

The letter, written in Bosnian, was translated via Google Translate.

The letter stated the AISBH Executive Committee had accepted the resignation of Mr Bekric and suspended him from the position of Imam until his matters had gone through the courts.

They also stated they would provide full support to the NSW Government in their inquiries and asked members of the mosque to remain “dignified” and refrain from making social media comments or speaking with the media.

Police allege Bekric created an Islamic council under the guise he would send the money to Bosnia to help those in need but instead took the money for himself.

This amounted to almost $100,000, police allege. 

He is yet to enter pleas to the charges.

EARLIER 

BY ELIZA BARR ON OCTOBER 1, 2021

A Sydney religious leader has been arrested as police allege he raised more than $100,000 from Islamic charities and kept it instead of passing it onto its purported causes.

The southwest Sydney man, 55, was arrested and charged at Campsie police station following a lengthy police investigation into alleged fraud.

Police will allege the man established a religious council and collected donations from Islamic community groups intended for overseas charities in Bosnia which was never passed on.

He has now been charged at Bankstown police station with seven counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, three counts of making false or misleading statements for authority or benefit and possessing a prohibited weapon.

A religious leader has been charged following an investigation into alleged charity fraud offences valued at approximately $100,000 in Sydney’s west. Source: NSW Police

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court on October 21.

Campsie Police Area Command’s acting Inspector Andrew Mackay said police would allege the money defrauded amounted to more than $100,000.

“These kinds of alleged crimes are based on greed,” Insp Mackay said at a press conference.

“They have the ability to financially cripple good people in the community.”

Police will allege $6500 cash and a range of documentation was seized at the man’s Yagoona home this morning.

“We will allege he approached a number of Islamic organisations, they were the primary targets in this alleged charity fraud,” Insp Mackay said.

“We allege that the man asked for charitable donations to be used overseas and that never occurred.”

Pictured is the man being led from his home Source: NSW Police

The investigation began after a number of community members came forward with their concerns about the alleged charitable cause.

“It’s extremely concerning and we take it very seriously,” Insp Mackay said.

“It’s very concerning behaviour and this investigation is aimed at preventing members of the community being the victims of financial crime.”

The charities which are the alleged victims are based all over Australia.