A prominent charity leader has been formally charged with a staggering 51 criminal offences following a detailed police investigation into alleged sexual assaults against three young women. Yas Daniel Matbouly, aged 50, voluntarily resigned from his position at the charity Serving Our People (SOP) based in Mermaid Beach on Queensland's Gold Coast, shortly after law enforcement officials conducted a raid on the organisation's headquarters.
Serious Allegations and Court Proceedings
Matbouly now faces an extensive list of charges that includes 34 counts of sexual assault and 14 counts of rape. Additionally, he has been accused of two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and one count of attempted rape. Police investigators allege that these offences were committed against three women, all in their twenties, during an eight-month period between April and November of last year.
Following the police raid on his charity's offices, Matbouly presented himself voluntarily to authorities and was subsequently taken to Southport Police Station. During his appearance at Southport Magistrates Court, prosecutors strongly opposed granting bail, citing both the extreme seriousness of the allegations and concerns that the accused might attempt to flee the country.
Bail Conditions and Legal Arguments
Defence counsel Tim Ryan KC argued that any perceived risks could be adequately managed through stringent bail conditions, noting that his client had demonstrated cooperation by stepping down from his charity role and surrendering to police voluntarily. "He presented himself voluntarily by arrangement at 6pm to the police station," Mr Ryan told the court, according to reports. "In the context of the investigation, he surrendered himself in the face of the allegation."
Despite prosecution objections, the magistrate granted bail with strict conditions. Matbouly is now prohibited from international travel and must report to Broadbeach Police Station twice weekly. He is also forbidden from contacting any of the alleged victims, all of whom were known to him personally. When questioned by reporters outside the courtroom about whether he posed a threat to the community, Matbouly responded with a simple "No."
Charity Background and Political Connections
Serving Our People was established in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been described as "Australia's fastest-growing charity," operating with approximately 1,300 volunteers and 11 full-time staff members. The organisation specialises in providing free food to vulnerable individuals and has developed significant political connections over its brief existence.
Matbouly has been photographed alongside Queensland Premier David Crisafulli during charity food deliveries, and the organisation has received support from several prominent political figures including state Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek, Housing Minister Sam O'Connor, and federal opposition environment spokesperson Angie Bell. Notably, Hollywood director Baz Luhrmann recorded a supportive video message for a fundraising event last year, which was subsequently shared across social media platforms.
Organisational Impact and Investigation Status
It is important to emphasise that there is no suggestion whatsoever that the charity itself has been involved in or is accused of any wrongdoing. However, ABC News reports indicate that four committee members resigned from SOP in 2025, with three departing within a single week between late November and early December.
Matbouly has confirmed his ongoing cooperation with police investigators but has not yet entered a formal plea to the charges. The case has been adjourned until February 19th for further proceedings. The Daily Mail has attempted to contact both Matbouly through his legal representative and the charity organisation directly for additional comment on these serious developments.
