Assalamu Alaykum wa rahma tullahi wabarakaatuhu Friend,

This is the most difficult email I have had to send since we started NZF in 2013. As part of our core values on transparency and care for our beloved community, I am proactively reaching out to our donors, like yourself, to inform you about a recent breach that occurred.

Unfortunately, during an internal review last month, we uncovered that a trusted long term staff member breached our policies and procedures to benefit themselves financially. We immediately notified the police and regulator and terminated the concerned individual's employment. The police are now undertaking an official investigation with our full cooperation.

I can confirm that no other member of NZF has been involved and this incident is isolated to the identified individual.

The money has since been replaced through arrangements made by the Board and the executive team, while we work with the authorities on the recovery. Alhamdulillah, our Zakat collection has not been affected and is continuing as normal.  Our Zakat distribution service, where the breach occurred, is also continuing, however with additional checks in place. 

In order to prevent such an occurrence again, we are conducting a full internal review as well as an independent external review of our controls and processes, with the aim of identifying key areas to improve, and to become more robust.

I understand that you may have further questions or concerns. Please know that you can contact me at any time via the below details. My team and I are working tirelessly along with the authorities to have this resolved as soon as we can.

You may contact me via

E: ismail.davids@nzf.org.au

P: +61 403 278 861

JazaakAllah Khair for your continued support; please keep us in your Dua's.

Abu Muneer Ismail Davids

CEO NZF Australia