SwayBlog

Cops have dropped a raft of fraud charges against a Sydney religious official who had been accused of cashing cheques intended for charity.

But the former Smithfield Mosque imam pleaded guilty to a weapons charge and will be sentenced next week.

Jasmin Bekric, 56, smiled as he exited Downing Centre Court on Friday following a 20-minute hearing where 11 charges against him were dismissed.

“It was quite appropriate for police to withdraw the fraud charges; my client feels vindicated, and extremely relieved,” his barrister Philip Strickland SC said afterwards.

The charges dropped included seven counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.

Each of those charges related to a separate alleged incident where Mr Bekric had been accused of cashing cheques from a Bosnian-Australian Islamic organisation into his personal Commonwealth Bank of Australia account.

The deposits totalled about $40,000, police alleged in court documents prior to dismissing the charges.

Other charges which were dismissed had to do with allegedly making false statements on official forms, and one alleging Mr Bekric had $6500 of possibly stolen money in his possession.

Mr Bekric pleaded guilty to a weapons charge related to an expandable baton which police found in his home during a search last October.

“The client has always maintained his innocence on the fraud charges, but he admitted to the baton,” Mr Strickland said.

“It was a great pressure to have these charges over his head. I want to congratulate the police; I think it was appropriate for them to withdraw the charges.”

Mr Bekric will be sentenced over the baton charge – possessing a prohibited weapon without permit – at the same court on Wednesday.

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