Executive Summary from GB (Chair)

Jaffer v Jaffer [2024] EWHC 135 (Ch)

World Federation of KSIMC (Hujjat Group) – High Court Findings on Governance and Donor Due Diligence

Court: High Court of Justice, Chancery Division (31 January 2024)
Judge: Nicola Rushton KC, sitting as Deputy High Court Judge

Background
– The case concerned governance and financial management of the World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna Asheri Muslim Communities (KSIMC / Hujjat Group).
– Central issue: handling of over £34 million in donations from a single anonymous donor between 2015–2019, directed mainly to Iraq and Lebanon.

Key Judicial Findings
1. Obscuring of Source of Funds
“The obscuring of the source of the Donor’s funds was a deliberate policy… even the Treasurer did not know whether the donations were being made from BVI, the UK or elsewhere.” (para 401)

2. Failure of Reporting and Oversight
“No reports were made to ExCo about the source of the funds… this left the Charity’s governing body unable to exercise oversight over tens of millions of pounds.” (para 392)

3. Charity Acting as Conduit (“Post-box”)
“I can see no sensible explanation for why an English charity would receive money from the Middle East only to send the same funds back there. The Charity was being used as a post-box.” (para 398)

4. Inadequate Due Diligence
“Risk assessments were not recorded; politically exposed person checks and sanctions checks were not undertaken until 2019. These were too informal for transactions of this scale and risk.” (paras 385–386)

5. Erosion of Trust and Governance
“The intentional obscuring of the Donor’s role… has undermined accountability and fuelled mistrust within the community.” (para 403)

Significance
– The High Court identified systemic failures in due diligence and transparency, directly contravening the Charity Commission’s “Know Your Donor” guidance.
– The findings raise questions about the fitness and propriety of trustees and the adequacy of governance structures to manage multi-million-pound donations.
– The Judge stressed the urgent need for improved accountability and compliance processes.

 

Implications
– For the Charity Commission: Regulatory intervention is necessary under the Charities Act 2011 to protect public trust and ensure compliance.
– For the Co-operative Bank (lender of ~£20m): The judgment raises serious financial and reputational risks associated with KSIMC’s trusteeship and governance.

Planning applications

50710/TRE/2025/212

HARE/D VILLAGES 2022

1 TANREY COTTAGES HILL END ROAD HAREFIELD

TPO 473 W2 1x Common Ash to prune overhanging branches.

 

 

36447/APP/2025/2310

ICK/HAM & S HF/D 22

38 TRUESDALE DRIVE HAREFIELD

CONVERSION OF GARAGE INTO HABITABLE SPACE

 

 

70720/APP/2025/2226

HARE/D VILLAGES 2022

5 SHELLEY LANE HAREFIELD

Erection of a single storey rear extension, following the demolition of existing

conservatory.

 

 

50618/APP/2025/2422

HARE/D VILLAGES 2022

5 MILNE WAY HAREFIELD

Erection of a two storey extension to the side, erection of a single storey extension

 

 

to the rear79690/APP/2025/2444

 

ICK/HAM & S HF/D 22

35 ST MARY’S ROAD HAREFIELD

Erection of single storey rear extension

 

 

1131/APP/2025/2465

HARE/D VILLAGES 2022

CHANDIGRAH SUMMERHOUSE LANE HAREFIELD

Variation of Condition 2 (Approved Plans), 3 (Materials), 5 (Access to Flat Roof), 8

(Landscaping), and 9 (Step Free Access) of appeal decision ref.

 

 

APP/R5510/W/24/3341154 (Hillingdon Council ref. 1131/APP/2023/3251) dated 21-

02-2025 (Erection of 4 dwellings following the demolition of the existing equestrian

storage buildings on land adjacent to Chandigrah.) to amend the roof forms from

flat to pitched, amend the choice of materials, and to provide additional parking

provision.

 

 

29650/APP/2025/2526
HARE/D VILLAGES 2022
20 MERLE AVENUE HAREFIELD
Erection of single storey rear extension with amendments to fenestrations.

 

 

Letter to the Police ref flats overlooking Harefield School.

At the previous meeting in September the subject of the flats overlooking the school and the incidents reported there were discussed and it was agreed HTRA should contact the Police to gain further comments and confirm if there are still issues at this location. A letter was sent to the Local SNT and they have acknowledged the content and at this time a meeting is being arranged with them to discuss the matter further. Hopefully this will happen this week. Please find the original letter sent below:

 

Dear Sirs,

At the meeting of the Harefield Residents Association on Monday 8th September a resident showed great concern about an incident that occurred in the accommodation around 28a-34b High Street Harefield. The resident stated that a naked man had been seen on the balcony of these premises and that the police had attended to deal with a related  disturbance.

Other residents then joined the conversation and it was soon established that most felt very uncomfortable that this incident could have been seen from the adjacent school playground and that this person is still living there.

Further conversations concluded that there had been many discussions about other incidents either in or around these premises.

There was an added discussion brought up about sexual assaults, girls being approached and a stabbing resulting in death.  Again we need clarification on this as rumours not confirmed can cause a wider issue. Whether these incidents relate to the same building or other HMO’S in the village the speaker could not confirm.

On talking to shopkeepers threatening behaviour had also been felt from the occupants.

It would be timely before our next meeting if the HTRA could have an open conversation with the local police about their actions in the location of these premises and the village as a whole so as to stop speculation that could further exacerbate the residents feelings.

As the school is overlooked by these premises I have copied in the Head Teacher of Harefield Junior School, Mr Sunner, to keep him informed.