The statutory inquiry will examine the Iraqi Welfare Association’s (IWA) use of ‘high risk’ methods to transfer and spend funds. It will also look at possible unmanaged conflicts of interest, failure to file accounts on time for four years, and adherence to the charity’s governing document and key charitable objectives.

The IWA was set up in 1996 to relieve poverty among the Iraqi community, particularly providing advice and interpreting services to Iraqi refugees, help with immigration issues, and currently has eight staff, and two registered trustees on the charity register, although six trustees were listed on the latest accounts filed at the Charity Commission.