UPDATE: 4pm
Save a Horse Australia acting president Candida Baker said the charity was shocked by the charges brought against former charity president Amanda Vella and former committee member Jennifer Malloch.
“We are sure the charges will be proven to be unfounded,” she said.
“At this time as the acting president and for the committee, our concern is to keep on looking after the horses.
“We have 124 horses in care; that’s what we have to do.”
Ms Baker said the charity had been overwhelmed by support on its Facebook page.
“It’s proof of how loved Amanda was and is,” she said.
“We are humbled by that.”
Ms Baker said she could not comment on Ms Vella’s recent resignation or the charges themselves.
“These charges are against Amanda and not against the charity,” she said.
“The charity is under no investigation.
“The current administration is under no investigation and as I said we have been overwhelmed by support.”
As previously reported by Fairfax Media, SARCIS detectives conducted seven searches on June 14 that included a home at Beaudesert, a property at Greenbank and four horse sanctuaries located at Tarampa, Minden, Buccan and Caligraba and another residence in Inala.
PREVIOUSLY
A Beaudesert woman has been charged following an extensive investigation into allegations of misuse of donations received by a charity.
Save a Horse Australia’s former president and founder Amanda Vella, 36, was charged with multiple counts of stealing, fraudulent falsification of records and misusing a carriage service.
Police will allege she stole money from the charity for her own personal gain.
It will also be alleged minutes from a meeting in 2012 were falsified and Ms Vella used social media to intimidate and harass a former charity worker and witness.
Members of the Forest Hill Stock and Rural Crime Investigation Squad also charged Jennifer Malloch, 55, of Clagiraba with misusing a carriage service.
Police said she was a former committee member of the charity.
It will be alleged she also used a social media account to intimidate and harass a former charity volunteer and witness in the case.
Both women were arrested at Ipswich on February 24 and have been granted bail on their own undertaking with conditions restricting their involvement in managing the charity and its funds.
They will appear in Ipswich Magistrates Court on March 24.