Brother and sister sentenced for charity fraud

On 9th January 2025, the Charity Commission today welcomed the sentencing of Rajbinder Kaur and Khaldip Singh Lehal for fraud.

Kaur was jailed for 2 years and 8 months for money laundering and stealing £50,000 donated to Sikh Youth UK. She and her brother, Lehal, were also convicted of providing false information to the Commission, with Lehal receiving a suspended four-month sentence and 80 hours of unpaid work.

The fraud convictions, under section 60 of the Charities Act 2011, mark a significant step in holding individuals accountable for misleading the Commission.

A 2018 inquiry into Sikh Youth UK funds, launched after police raised concerns, saw the Charity Commission provide vital evidence that secured the convictions.

Tim Hopkins, deputy director for specialist investigations and standards at the Charity Commission, emphasised the significance of the case:

“We welcome the firm stance taken today by the courts, making it clear that stealing charity funds for personal benefit is unacceptable.

The convictions of both siblings for providing false or misleading information to the Commission also underscore the gravity of such offences.

Our close collaboration with the police ensured these criminal acts did not go unpunished. Together, we upheld public trust in charitable giving and delivered justice effectively.”

Source: GOV.UK