Man found dead was being investigated over charity cash (Muslim charity alert)

Austin American Statesman ^ | 1 May 08 | Tony Plohetski

[LSUfan]

Man found dead was being investigated over charity cash

Bound body of Riad Hamad was found last month in Lady Bird Lake.

A man whose body was found in Lady Bird Lake last month had been under investigation by federal authorities who said they could not trace the whereabouts of more than $500,000 he received for his charity, according to a search warrant obtained Wednesday.

Riad Hamad, 55, a teacher at Clint Small Jr. Middle School in Southwest Austin, was found April 16 near Comal Street and Nash Hernandez Sr. Road.

Police have said that they think he might have killed himself and that he had talked about committing suicide.

However, the condition of his body — he was found with his hands and legs bound and tape over his eyes — has caused others to consider the death suspicious.

Hamad's family has described him as a peace activist who worked to help others locally and internationally.

According to a search warrant affidavit, Hamad operated the Palestine Children's Welfare Fund, which bills itself as an organization to improve the lives of Palestinian children.

It said that Hamad received $633,965 in donations and that he sent some of the money — about $527,000 — to the Middle East. But the affidavit said authorities "can not determine the ultimate disposition of these funds at this time."

The affidavit said authorities think Hamad was using the donated money for personal use and not paying federal income tax on it.

The document also said that Hamad failed to file several income tax returns from 2000 to 2006 and did not pay any taxes on earned income during those years.

Hamad also gave copies of unfiled federal income tax returns and false documents to various universities in Texas to obtain federal loans in the amount of $135,000, the affidavit said.

Hamad's relatives could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

[Tex Pete]

He’s just a poor little martyr.