NAOMI'S FIGHT
I was conned by my lawyer, claims Naomi Campbell as she fights five year ban from sitting on board of charity
Naomi's signature is said to have been forged as well as a fake email set up to impersonate her
SUPERMODEL Naomi Campbell has claimed she was duped repeatedly by a pal before they were banned from acting as her charity’s trustees.
The 54-year-old alleged lawyer Bianka Hellmich carried out a “concerted deception” against her when they sat on the Fashion for Relief board.
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She is appealing a five-year ban imposed by the Charity Commission after it found serious mismanagement of funds.
Money was used pay for a five-star hotel in Cannes, spa treatments, room service and cigarettes.
In the five years Fashion for Relief ran, from 2016 to 2021, Hellmich, who was later handed a nine-year ban, was paid more than £500,000 from its funds, papers claim.
Andrew Westwood KC, for Campbell, said she was kept ignorant about how the organisation was run.
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Her signature was forged and a fake email set up to impersonate her in dealings with lawyers, he added.
She could not “present her proper and accurate position” as she did not get to see the documents the commission relied on before barring her, it was said.
Campbell’s lawyers set out her position at a first tier tribunal hearing in London yesterday as she successfully applied for the disclosure of some documents.
Faisel Sadiq, for the commission, said Campbell asserted she was the victim of fraud and forgery.
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She did not dispute the misconduct/mismanagement in the administration of the charity, he said, only that she knew nothing of it “due to wholesale deceit being perpetrated against her by a fellow trustee, Ms Bianka”.
Mr Sadiq added: “Her case in a nutshell is, ‘I knew nothing about it. I was a figurehead’.”
Naomi Campbell, 52, stuns in a cut-away sparkly jumpsuit and boots at fashion show
He also successfully applied for the model to disclose her communications with fellow trustees.
In a statement, Campbell said: “Ever since the commission’s report, I have fought to uncover the facts. What has been unearthed so far is shocking.
I want to shine a light on how easy it is to fake identities online. I want to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and justice is done
Naomi
“I want to shine a light on how easy it is to fake identities online. I want to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and justice is done.”
She said she would never do charity work for personal gain.
The Charity Commission said: “These are significant allegations for the courts to consider. We will continue to co-operate.”
Ms Hellmich has not appealed against her disqualification, nor has the third trustee, US businesswoman Veronica Chou, who got a four-year ban.
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