Now police investigate ‘bungs’ to tram staff

Judge calls halt to evidence

POLICE yesterday revealed they are probing claims that staff working on the Edinburgh trams project were corrupt.

The claims that staff solicited or received underhand cash payouts while working on the disastrous scheme were made on Thursday at the Edinburgh Trams Inquiry.

Inquiry chairman Lord Hardie elected to hear the corruption claims after ex-transport official Neil Renilson said ‘employees or agents’ were guilty of the malpractice at Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (TIE), the council-owned firm responsible for construction.

Now Police Scotland has announced it is making its own inquiries.

A force spokesman confirmed: ‘Police in Edinburgh are aware of recent comments made during evidence at the Edinburgh Trams Inquiry.

‘The matter was highlighted to police on Thursday, December 14. Inquiries are ongoing and as such it would not be appropriate to say anything further at this time.’

Mr Renilson, who was to be responsible for running the trams once they were built for Transport Edinburgh Limited (TEL), made his claims in spoken evidence.

But in a seemingly unprecedented move, he was steered away from explaining them and was told to submit them in writing by midday on Monday.

Inquiry senior counsel Jonathan Lake, QC, said: ‘Now I’m going to ask you one more question, and can I impress upon you this time that what I’m looking for initially is a yes or no answer – we’re going to be quite limited.

‘Do you have information to the effect that there were employees or agents of TIE soliciting or receiving corrupt payments?’

Mr Renilson was told by Lord Hardie to ‘just answer yes or no’, appearing to move him away from outlining his evidence to the inquiry.

He responded ‘yes’ and was asked by Mr Lake: ‘Would you be willing to provide that information to the inquiry? Will you do so please by midday on Monday?’

Mr Renilson confirmed he would give the evidence in writing.

But the decision did not go unchallenged by lawyers in the room.

The representative for law firm DLA Piper, which seconded advisers to TIE, asked Lord Hardie why the matter was not simply being heard in spoken testimony on the day.

Lord Hardie said: ‘I don’t want disclosures made publicly on allegations until at least I know what they are and some investigation is made into them.’

He told Roddy Dunlop, QC, for DLA Piper, that he would be able to view the claims ‘in due course’ but did not give an indication as whether or not the public will be able to view them. And he did not explain why he made the decision to view them privately.

When the Mail questioned representatives of the inquiry, no further clue was given on the matter.

After the hearing ended on Thursday, a spokesman said: ‘An allegation of this nature needs to be considered by Lord Hardie and the team in order to establish the facts.

‘This is now under way and, when it is complete, Lord Hardie will then determine how to proceed.’

The inquiry has heard various allegations over potential malpractice in the payments of personal bonuses in recent weeks.

But this appears to be the first claim of outright criminal activity made during the inquiry.

Mr Renilson has appeared twice at the inquiry. His first appearance was cut short after a lunch break, with Lord Hardie saying he was ‘no longer fit to give evidence’.

The inquiry will resume in January.