The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Roads: Police launch cash probe into BEAR Scotland.
EXCLUSIVE: Probe into allegations that BEAR Scotland skimmed thousands
A high level police probe has been launched into the company charged with repairing Scotland’s main roads, The Courier can reveal.
Detectives have interviewed two complainants over allegations that employees at BEAR Scotland skimmed tens of thousands of pounds as they scrapped road signage.
Former company employees Sean Reilly and Sean Toshney claim management at the firm used an unidentified scrap merchant in Perth to dispose of the damaged metals.
In a letter forwarded to Police Scotland’s Chief Constable Phil Gormley by Labour MSP Jenny Marra, Mr Toshney said: “On one such occasion, the guys who were instructed to take the aforementioned scrap to the scrap metal yard were given a cheque for just over £12,000 and the envelope that the cheque was in was not sealed.”
The note adds that “curiosity got the better of the guys so they looked in the envelope” and found the cheque was made out to an employee of the company.
The letter also details concerns about the practices which accompanied replacing the crash barrier on the Friarton Bridge near Perth.
It claims the central reserve vehicle restraint system was not installed correctly because restraining bolts were cut and, rather than being replaced to specification standard, were glued in place.
A Transport Scotland spokeswoman confirmed BEAR used the glue but argued there was “absolutely no basis” to allegations of fraud and insisted the work carried in 2013 was “fully designed, approved and tested to meet the required national standard.”
She added: “The works were completed and fully supervised by BEAR. In addition a series of pull tests completed to ensure the posts met the required strength.
“BEAR’s proposed method of fixing was fully designed, approved and tested to meet the required standard, and as such Transport Scotland concluded no further investigation was required as nothing untoward had taken place.”
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “A letter has been received and Police Scotland will give full consideration to the issues raised.”
BEAR Scotland was asked to respond to the fact that Police Scotland is now looking at the allegations.
A spokeswoman for the company said: “The Dundee Courier has provided us with no evidence or details to support this claim.
“We will not comment further unless we become aware of any facts to support this claim.”
The Courier made multiple attempts to contact the employees in question but was unable to do so.