The police are now investigating fraud allegations against Jeremy Newmark, the former chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, after the publication of an independent review into his conduct and its handling by the JLC’s trustees.

The report suggests that £111,734 cannot be accounted for and that an additional £266,189 merits further investigation.

But because of the lack of proper accounting records, the panel say they are not in a position to provide an accurate figure as to the full amount.

The panel say that their work was “seriously hampered” by the absence of key documents and records. They report witnesses saying that “one week after his resignation JN (Mr Newmark) came into the office and ‘removed files, information etc’. JN denies removing any material.”

Last February, the JC revealed the existence of an internal JLC audit from 2013 which reported that Mr Newmark had deceived the organisation out of tens of thousands of pounds.

We also reported how, in order to avoid a scandal, the JLC’s trustees decided to keep Mr Newmark’s behaviour secret and not inform the police.

Although the independent panel does not impugn the motives of the JLC trustees, it criticises their failure to exercise basic oversight and their decision to cover up the scandal rather than fully investigate and report it.

They say there was “little evidence of acceptable levels of financial control” and that Mr Newmark “had the facility to withdraw round cash sums from the bank and make payments into his personal bank account without supporting documentation.”

Following the JC’s story, Mr Newmark resigned as chair of the Jewish Labour Movement — although he remains leader of the Labour group on Hertsmere Council.

In the 2017 election he was the Labour candidate in Finchley and Golders Green and lost by only 1,657 votes.