The allegations concern Bishop Yousif Abdulmasih, also known as Bishop Barnaba Yousif Habash, who is named as the defendant in a lawsuit filed by Hani Toma, a member of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Syriac Catholic Church in El Cajon, San Diego County.
According to the lawsuit, Toma was told by the Assyrian bishop that the church needed renovations but did not have sufficient funds to complete the work and was relying on donations. Toma allegedly agreed to contribute $200,000, requesting that his donation remain anonymous.
The lawsuit states that on June 8, the bishop went to Toma's workplace and collected the money in cash. Later that month, Toma allegedly spoke with a priest at the church, who told him that the church had sufficient funds to carry out the remodeling and that no $200,000 donation had been received.
Based on that conversation, the lawsuit accuses Habash of keeping the money for personal use rather than using it for the church project. The lawsuit further states that Habash subsequently left California and moved to Michigan. ABC 10News reported that it attempted to contact the bishop but was unable to reach him. The church declined to comment on the allegations. Toma is seeking the return of his $200,000, as well as additional damages.
The case is a civil lawsuit, and authorities told ABC 10News that the El Cajon Police Department is not involved and that there is currently no criminal case against the bishop.
The case was first reported nationally by the New York Post in an article published September 15, 2026, which reported on the allegations and the bishop's move to Michigan.
This is the second case of alleged embezzlement by high ranking Assyrian church figures in the U.S in recent years, with bishop Shaleta of the Chaldean church in San Diego arrested on embezzlement and money laundering charges in March of this year.
The Assyria Post
