Supermodel Naomi Campbell is appealing a five-year ban from charity work, alleging that a fellow trustee engaged in "concerted deception" against her.
In September 2022, Campbell was prohibited from serving as a charity trustee for five years following an investigation by the Charity Commission, a regulatory body for charities in England and Wales. The investigation uncovered serious financial mismanagement at Fashion for Relief, a charity founded by Campbell.
The inquiry revealed that charity funds were used to cover Campbell's expenses at a luxury hotel in Cannes, including spa treatments, room service, and cigarettes. Campbell was one of three trustees banned, alongside Bianka Hellmich (nine-year ban) and Veronica Chou (four-year ban).
Campbell has filed an appeal against her ban, claiming she was a "victim of fraud and forgery." She alleges that a fake email account was used to impersonate her in communications with lawyers. Neither Hellmich nor Chou have appealed their bans.
During a tribunal hearing on Friday, lawyers for Campbell and the Charity Commission presented arguments and requested document disclosure. In written arguments for Campbell, barrister Andrew Westwood KC stated that Campbell was unable to adequately address issues related to Fashion for Relief's operations or present her accurate position during the investigation due to deception by her co-trustee, Bianka Hellmich.
Westwood further alleged that documents provided by the commission indicate a motive for Hellmich's deception, both in relation to the commission's inquiry and the broader management of the charity. He claimed that Hellmich received over £500,000 from charity funds during the charity's operational period (2016-2021).
Campbell's legal team argued that the ban was "fundamentally unfair" as she was disqualified without having the opportunity to respond to the reasons for disqualification or access the documents relied upon by the commission. They requested disclosure of the commission's entire investigation file, but the judge ordered the disclosure of only relevant documents.
Faisel Sadiq, representing the Charity Commission, acknowledged Campbell's claim of being a victim of fraud and forgery. He stated that Campbell does not dispute the existence of misconduct or mismanagement within the charity but contends that she was unaware of it due to deception by Hellmich. Campbell alleges that her signature on a document was forged.
Sadiq emphasized that Campbell's appeal is not directed at criticizing the commission but rather at highlighting the alleged fraud. He successfully applied for Campbell to disclose communications between herself and her fellow trustees.
In a statement on Wednesday, Campbell expressed gratitude to the tribunal for allowing her to appeal the Charity Commission's findings and reiterated her commitment to uncovering the truth. She stated that she has never engaged in philanthropic work for personal gain and will never do so.
A Charity Commission spokesperson acknowledged the tribunal's initial ruling and the judge's statement that Campbell must prove serious allegations of wrongdoing against Hellmich. The commission will continue to cooperate with the tribunal as it proceeds with the case.