Ex-brassica director denies embezzlement

Woman accused of fraudulently obtaining almost £140,000

The former director of a Dundee restaurant which subsequently closed embezzled and fraudulently obtained almost £140,000, a court heard yesterday.

Dea Mcgill, 52, allegedly committed the offences between December 2017 and October 2018 while she was a director of Tayone Food Limited.

That firm was the parent company of Brassica, which was located under the Caird Hall on Shore Terrace.

The total sum of money involved in the charges presented at Dundee Sheriff Court was amassed from a string of fraudulent offences Mcgill is alleged to have carried out. Charges also include forging a personal guarantee for a leasing agreement and making a false application for finance to pay for bespoke furniture.

Mcgill, of Fort Street, Broughty Ferry, was not present when the case called and a plea of not guilty was tendered on her behalf by solicitor Ross Donnelly.

Sheriff Jillian Martin-brown continued the case until May.

The former director of a defunct Dundee restaurant has denied stealing thousands of pounds from her business and defrauding insurance and finance companies.

Dea Mcgill, 52, allegedly embezzled and fraudulently obtained almost £140,000 between December 2017 and October 2018.

The offences were said to have been committed while Mcgill was a director of Tayone Food Limited, the parent company of Brassica, located under the Caird Hall on Shore Terrace.

Prosecutors allege Mcgill forged a personal guarantee for a leasing agreement and made a false application for finance to pay for bespoke furniture.

Mcgill was not present when the case called at Dundee Sheriff Court.

A plea of not guilty was tendered on her behalf by solicitor Ross Donnelly, to the four charges she faces on indictment.

It is alleged Mcgill, of Fort Street, Broughty Ferry, embezzled £22,006.55 from Brassica between December 4, 2017, and October 8, 2018.

Between May 3 and July 11, 2018, Mcgill allegedly uttered as genuine a personal guarantee featuring the name Rami Sarraf at Fort Street, White Pearl Dental Practice on Dudhope Terrace, CAS Leasing Co, Manor Farm, Southampton.

This was allegedly in the knowledge it had been forged, which led her to receive a leasing agreement worth £42,520.03.

Mcgill allegedly pretended to Armada Asset Finance, Topsham, Devon, that Danijel Vrbas was engaged to supply bespoke furniture to Tayone Food Limited for £37,000, between February 1, 2018, and May 4, 2018.

It is alleged this was false and Mcgill fraudulently received the money.

Mcgill is accused of committing an identical offence against Aurora Leasing Limited, Whetstone, London, between February 1, 2018, and June 11, 2018, for £37,700.

Sheriff Jillian Martinbrown continued Mcgill’s first diet until May.

“A plea of not guilty was tendered on her behalf to the charges

The now defunct Brassica restaurant, whose former director faces fraud charges at Dundee Sheriff Court involving thousands of pounds.