|
UK charges 4 lawmakers over expenses scandal
[Iran Press TV Latest] Four British lawmakers are facing criminal charges over the expenses claims scandal, the country's chief prosecutor said. Three members of the House of Commons and one member of the House of Lords have been charged with offenses including false accounting, Keir Starmer said. "In four cases, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges and that it is in the public interest to charge the individuals concerned," said Starmer. The three lawmakers are from the ruling Labour Party, while the House of Lords member is a member of the main opposition, the Conservative Party. Lawmaker Elliot Morley, a former minister, faces two charges for dishonestly claiming mortgage expenses, including 16,000 pounds (25,000 dollars) for a mortgage that no longer existed. His fellow colleague David Chaytor faces three charges, including one on using false invoices to claim for IT services and another for claiming almost 13,000 pounds in rent for a London property that he owned. Jim Devine faces two charges; He is accused of claiming thousands of pounds worth of cleaning services and stationery using false invoices. Paul White, known as Lord Hanningfield, faces six charges over allegations that he claimed expenses "to which he knew he was not entitled" including for staying overnight in London when records show he was actually driven home. This comes after last year's revelations by the Daily Telegraph that hundreds of British lawmakers and cabinet ministers had claimed large sums from the public purse for second homes or other personal expenses. A report on Thursday ordered over 390 current and former British lawmakers to repay a total of more than one million pounds. Among the lawmakers ordered to repay funds is British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has to repay 13,000 pounds, mostly in excessive claims for a maid. Posted by: Fred 2010-02-06 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=289755 |