Islamic group in Villa Park hopeful after finance director’s arrest

The chairman of a nonprofit Islamic center in Villa Park says the group is emerging “stronger than ever” after its finance director was removed amid allegations he swiped $200,000.

Zia Hassan, who heads the Islamic Foundation’s board of trustees, said Tuesday the organization already has enacted tighter accounting controls and is working to recoup the money.

“Thanks to your financial support and continued trust in the foundation, we are emerging from this difficult period of time stronger than ever, with safeguards put into place to make sure that such a breach of security will not happen again in the future,” he told supporters in a letter he provided to the Daily Herald. “These matters are being handled by our attorneys, and we trust that justice will be served according to the laws of the state of Illinois.”

Hassan’s comments came a day after DuPage County authorities announced a felony theft charge against 58-year-old Inam Rahim of Naperville, who was the foundation’s business and finance director for six years.

Prosecutors say Rahim sneaked his wife onto the payroll and, over two years, received $212,000 in unauthorized checks.

On Tuesday, Hassan said he was “shocked” last year when a payroll review showed Rahim had taken more than triple his annual, $70,000 salary. He said Rahim also caused the foundation to issue questionable payments to a company he owned while keeping his ownership quiet.

The case is even more aggravating, Hassan said, because Rahim often came to him with concerns about the organization’s cash flow.

“This is what white-collar crime is all about. Between volunteers and employees, it’s very difficult to recognize,” he said. “I trusted him. You have to trust people in your organization, or else how do you operate?”

Hassan said the foundation fired Rahim in July and Rahim responded with mass emails to foundation associates criticizing its leadership and trying to “cover his tracks.”

Neither Rahim nor his attorney returned calls seeking comment.

Hassan said Rahim and his wife were part of the foundation community for about a decade and both worked at times in various capacities for the organization. He said Rahim’s wife did not work there when she was allegedly added to the payroll.

Since the allegations surfaced, the foundation has bolstered its financial oversight with a two-person team, which includes a board member who is a certified public accountant, Hassan said.

Founded in 1974, the foundation employs about 100 people and operates a mosque and school at 300 W. Highridge Road in Villa Park. About 650 students attend the school full-time and at least 2,000 people attend prayer services regularly.

“We are a nonprofit and don’t have a big bank savings,” Hassan said, “so the revenue stream is very difficult for us.”