The Charity Commission has launched an inquiry into Gilbert Deya Ministries, the Peckham-based church and charity whose founder Gilbert Deya won notoriety over his claim to be able to cure cancer through "anointed" olive oil.

In a statement, the Charity Commission said it had "concerns regarding the safeguarding policies, practices and procedures at the charity which arose following the arrest of one of its trustees in 2014".

It said it had been trying to address concerns with the trustees but that they had failed to report "serious incidents" to the commission and to answer its questions adequately.

The statement said: "The regulator also has concerns that the charity may have been selling olive oil to which it attributed healing qualities. The regulator is concerned that such activity may be in breach of relevant regulations and law."

Deya, who uses the title of Archbishop, was arrested and tried for sexual assault charges in 2014 but was acquitted.

He was exposed by The Sun newspaper in January as selling olive oil from Aldi at inflated prices as a cure for cancer and infertility.

Deya has been in a battle to avoid extradition to Kenya for the last 10 years, where he is accused of having been involved in a baby-smuggling operation centred on a Nairobi slum hospital. He says he faces torture if he is sent back to Kenya.

Gilbert Deya Ministries has been asked to comment on this story.