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Naomi Campbell has been temporarily barred from serving as a charity trustee after a U.K. watchdog group found evidence of financial misconduct at her own charity.
On Thursday (September 26), the U.K.'s Charity Commission released an investigative report on Campbell's charity, Fashion for Relief, saying it was "poorly managed" and "had inadequate financial management," per USA Today.
Campbell's charity reportedly spent less than 9 percent of its earnings on grants and causes. According to the report, some of the charity's expenses, including a five-star hotel stay and security for Campbell during an event for Cannes Film Festival in 2018, were "not reasonable." Other expenses cited included "spa treatments, room service, and the purchase of cigarettes."
As a result of the investigation, Campbell was banned from serving as a charity trustee for five years. One of Campbell's co-trustees, Bianka Hellmich, was barred from serving in the charity role for nine years. Veronica Chou, a second trustee, was banned for four years.
The watchdog group said Fashion for Relief also "failed to manage" partnerships with two charities, Save the Children Fund and the Mayor's Fund for London. U.K.'s Charity Commission brought in interim managers to fulfill outstanding payments of over $460,000 to the two charities.
"This inquiry, and the work of the interim managers we appointed to run the charity in place of the trustees, has resulted in the recovery of £344,000 and protection of a further £98,000 charitable funds," Tim Hopkins, Charity Commission deputy director, said in a released statement. "I am pleased that the inquiry has seen donations made to other charities which this charity has previously supported."
Campbell founded Fashion for Relief in 2005. Fashion for Relief was officially registered in 2015 and removed from the country register of charities in March of this year.
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