Former air hostess Lucy Fensom (pictured) attracted large donations after establishing Protected Haven For Donkeys In The Holy Land 16 years in the past, however she has now been evicted
The founding father of a celebrity-backed charity that saves donkeys within the Holy Land has been sacked amid a rare authorized battle over £200,000 that has 'vanished'.
Former air hostess Lucy Fensom attracted large donations from Mail on Sunday readers after establishing Protected Haven For Donkeys In The Holy Land 16 years in the past to rescue mistreated donkeys.
However she has now been evicted from her dwelling on the sanctuary the place she cared for greater than 200 rescued animals.
Courtroom papers present that Ms Fensom's husband, Adi Zahor, who ran the day-to-day operation of the sanctuary, is being sued for the restoration of £200,000 of donations, which the charity's trustees declare have disappeared below the couple's administration.
Ms Fensom and Mr Zahor deny the costs and, the papers present, are counter-suing the British-registered charity for £700,000 in unpaid pension contributions, severance and different advantages, claiming harassment, defamation and illegal dismissal. The charity, too, denies the allegations made in opposition to it. The case is because of be heard in Could.
The authorized battle will horrify hundreds of British supporters who've given tens of millions to Protected Haven. Used as beasts of burden in Israel and Palestine since time immemorial, donkeys within the Holy Land are frequently abused or deserted once they can not earn their maintain.
Donations soared after their struggling was uncovered on this newspaper, and high-profile backers embody sports activities broadcaster Des Lynam and former Tory Minister and Strictly star Ann Widdecombe.
In response to her dismissal, Ms Fensom and her husband have arrange a brand new animal hospital referred to as Lucy's Sanctuary For Holy Land Donkeys not removed from the unique sanctuary.
The brand new charity has been funded by supporters and Ms Fensom's dad and mom, who stay in Brighton.
In October, Ms Fensom despatched an emotional e-newsletter telling British supporters that she has obtained £12,000 to maintain her work and that 19 donkeys and 7 horses 'rescued from appalling circumstances' have discovered a loving dwelling along with her.
Ms Fensom's husband, Adi Zahor (pictured), who ran the day-to-day operation of the sanctuary, is being sued for the restoration of £200,000 of donations, which the charity's trustees declare have disappeared below the couple's administration
'It might be inconceivable for me to stroll away from them,' she continued. She mentioned it could be 'a horrible disgrace' for her 15 years of data and expertise 'to be thrown away'.
In the identical e-newsletter, her legal professionals claimed: 'There may be an unpleasant battle between the brand new administration of the charity and our purchasers during which the charity tried to destroy Lucy and Adi's capacity to function. One such instance is making a number of false accusations about our purchasers.'
The charity denies the allegations. Final night time a spokesman mentioned: 'Discovering a possible misappropriation of funds 19 months in the past was extraordinarily troubling.
'Upon discovering the potential wrongdoing, we instantly alerted the Charity Fee [in London] and took measures to make sure that the animals had been secure and the property secured.
We're assured of the end result of the authorized actions.' Hailed as a 'saint' by her supporters, Ms Fensom gave up her job as an air hostess when she based Protected Haven, moved to Israel and poured her financial savings into establishing it.
In October, Ms Fensom despatched an emotional e-newsletter telling British supporters that she has obtained £12,000 to maintain her work
Issues started to go flawed for her in 2015 when the charity appointed a brand new chairman, George Russell.
In keeping with paperwork lodged with the Israeli courts, he launched an investigation into the funds of the charity after Protected Haven's new auditors refused to approve its accounts.
A evaluate by Protected Haven's Israeli accountant confirmed about £200,000 unaccounted for from 2011 to 2014.
Mr Russell and the trustees accused Mr Zahor of stealing the funds and demanded that he and Ms Fensom be instantly dismissed.
Mr Zahor denies taking any of the cash. He says there is no such thing as a proof of theft and the estimate of lacking funds was based mostly on an unofficial diary saved by a disgruntled employee. He claims the obvious shortfall occurred as a result of the charity trustees permitted the usage of money for many transactions in Israel, resulting in discrepancies. He insists that every one the cash was spent on caring for the donkeys and the work of the charity.
Omary Bader, the charity's Israeli lawyer, says the police have begun an investigation, interviewing staff on the sanctuary and requesting financial institution information. The charity says the Charity Fee is happy the trustees have acted in an accurate authorized method.
Ms Fensom advised The Mail on Sunday: 'My well being has been badly affected at this try to assassinate my character by individuals who I believed had been my pals and who shared my imaginative and prescient.'
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