Head Imam of Estonian Islamic Congregation suspected of embezzlement
Officers of the Central Criminal Police’s financial crimes unit searched the offices of Head Imam Ildar Muhhamedšin on Tuesday last week. Muhhamedšin is the head of the Estonian Islamic Congregation. The police acted on a complaint of members of the congregation that the Imam misappropriated its funds.
According to information available to daily Eesti Päevaleht, the investigators confiscated the Imam’s phone and computer as well as documents. Based on evidence found, Muhhamedšin was now suspected of embezzlement, press spokesman for the North Police Prefecture, Kaarel Kallas, told the paper.
At this stage of the investigation, they could confirm that the sum Muhhamedšin had taken from the congregation amounted to a few ten thousand euros, Kallas said.
There was no reason to assume that there would be other suspects, he added. The prosecutor didn’t see reason to arrest Muhhamedšin either.
Päevaleht tried to contact Muhhamedšin, but got the answer that “The congregation doesn’t comment”.
According to Päevaleht, the Imam has a luxurious apartment for his personal use that the congregation paid for. According to the Estonian Islamic Congregation’s chairman, Aghanum Allahverdijeva, Muhhamedšin rents two rooms in the apartment in Tina Street for €200 a month.
“The Tax and Customs Board told us at the beginning of the year that €200 is little for such an apartment. The rents for similar apartments in the same area are noticeably higher,” Allahverdijeva said, adding that the congregation had discussed the matter and decided to sell the apartment.
The criminal investigation is conducted by the Central Criminal Police and led by the Office of the Prosecutor General.
Editor: Editor: Dario Cavegn