http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/6709337/100000-fraud-on-Maddie-McCann-search-fund.html
‘£100,000 fraud’ on Maddie fund
WHISTLEBLOWER EXCLUSIVE: Search money rip-off claim
THE fund to find Madeleine McCann was ripped off by up to £100,000, whistleblowers claim.
Documents alleging the huge fraud have been handed to her parents Kate and Gerry.
It is claimed a person connected to the hunt for the three-year-old used public donations to fund his own lifestyle. He is said to have duped the McCanns into thinking the cash was spent looking for their daughter.
Two whistleblowers named the man in sworn affidavits which The Sun passed to the couple.
They allege false accounting and forgery of travel and hotel receipts.
One said: “What made the fraud so disgusting was money came from people who shed tears over her disappearance and wanted to do their little bit.”
The Fund was launched in May 2007 when Madeleine disappeared from the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz.
It has raised more than £2million. Backers include JK Rowling and David Beckham.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Kate or Gerry who thanked The Sun for the evidence.
Last night the McCanns’ spokesman said: “Madeleine’s Fund takes extremely seriously any suggestion monies intended for the search have been obtained fraudulently.
“Kate, Gerry and the other directors of Madeleine’s Fund will co-operate fully with authorities to ensure these claims are fully investigated.”
