Naomi Campbell Blames Co-Trustee for Charity Fraud as 5-Year Ban Appeal Hears Forgery Claims
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 16
Naomi Campbell Blames Co-Trustee for Charity Fraud as 5-Year Ban Appeal Hears Forgery Claims
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 16
Summary
At a London tribunal, Naomi Campbell said co-trustee Bianka Hellmich forged her signature, used a fake email address and diverted money meant for Fashion for Relief.
Campbell argued her only mistake was trusting Hellmich, while her lawyer said the co-trustee ran a long-term scheme that left Campbell acting largely as a figurehead.
The Charity Commission countered that Campbell could not abdicate trustee duties; its 2024 inquiry found only 8.5% of funds raised went to grants, with hundreds of thousands of pounds spent elsewhere.
Police have been told of the fraud and false-information allegations, though the Commission said no individual was specifically reported.
Campbell is appealing a 5-year charity ban imposed after the watchdog’s probe; Hellmich was barred for 9 years, and Fashion for Relief was dissolved in March 2024.