The body which runs Kingston Mosque has been fiercely criticised by the Charity Commission.

A damning report by the commission on Kingston Muslim Association (KMA) reveals the charity was largely made up of family members.

The trustee body was improperly constituted, no annual general meeting had taken place since 1998 and it failed to hold elections.

The trustees failed to submit accounts or properly publicise details of how to apply for membership. The trustees told the commission they failed to submit accounts and hold elections because major building work had been carried out to the charity's premises.

The trustees had been in post for four consecutive years yet the constitution of the charity stipulates that trustees should hold office for only two years.

The report concludes months of internal conflict over the way KMA conducted itself, and paves the way for a more openly run constitution.

It revealed there were no transactions shown in the accounts regarding Zakat collections, which should show how much money members had given to charity and which charities money had gone to. The trustees said details were put on a public notice board.

The commission said trustees should ensure the management of the charity is transparent, that decisions are arrived at openly and minutes should record any situations of potential conflict.

The Charity Commission launched an inquiry 18 months ago to examine complaints that KMA was improperly constituted.

Rifts centred between a group of members including then chairman Mubarak Ali and secretary Anwar Malik, and a modernising group led by New Malden management consultant Rafik Gaffar which led calls for change.

At an annual general meeting on November 28 Mr Gaffar welcomed the formation of an interim committee group, chaired by Major Rashid Leher. It is taking charge until elections are held in May.

Visit www.charity-commission.

gov.uk to see the full report.

rclifford@london.newsquest.co.uk