AN EX-financial officer for Notting Hill Carnival charity has been jailed for fraud.
Nadia Chase Ali, 35, was sentenced to six years in prison Friday at Isleworth Crown Court for fraud by abuse of position, theft and the removal of criminal property from England and Wales, relating to her time working for the Carnival Village Trust.
A statement from the Metropolitan Police Service said that Chase Ali was found to have made 530 payments worth a total of £784,262.85 between 2014 and 2016 while she was working for the charity and its trading arm, The Tabernacle W11.
She also stole a large number of financial documents to conceal the fraud, which were found at her home when she was arrested on March 16 2017. The documents included outstanding invoices, letters demanding payment and financial statements, the police said.
According to the Charity Commission website, the Carnival Village Trust had an income of almost £1.5m and spent almost £1.6m in the year to 31 March 2017. The accounts were submitted 147 days late.
Chase Ali pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position and removal of criminal property from England and Wales on 11 June, but denied the theft of financial documents.
She was found guilty on 15 June.
According to the Evening Standard, Matthew Phillip, director of Tabernacle W11 said he felt "disgusted" and "betrayed by the theft, which only came to light after the charity hired new accountants.
He said: "We are a very small team and everyone goes over and above e what they would normally do when it comes to supporting each other. I feel betrayed personally and the community feels betrayed. This brings unwanted negative attention on Carnival when London more than ever needs people to pull together."
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