The face of 2010′s controversy over a proposed mega-mosque and community center near Ground Zero in Manhattan has been accused of defrauding donors in a lawsuit filed in New York state court this week.

Feisal Abdul Rauf and his wife Daisy Khan bought “a luxury sports car, personal real estate” and traveled on money that was donated for specific projects at Rauf’s Cordoba Initiative and the American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA), the lawsuit says. It was filed by Robert Leslie Deak, whose family foundation donated $167,000 to Rauf’s ”Shariah Index” project from 2006-08. The money was supposed to be used for Islamic scholars to work to reduce anti-Muslim sentiment.

In addition, the lawsuit claims, Rauf failed to report $3 million in donations from the Malaysian government on his non-profits’ tax forms and that Rauf also used the money on personal spending. The lawsuit seeks $5 million in punitive damages.

Read more at IPT