Fraud accused fails to showup to court

A Perth man, accused of embezzling almost £64,000 while having power of attorney over his 84-yearold mother’s financial affairs, failed to appear for a continued hearing at the Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

Concerns were expressed that he might have harmed himself but he was later traced by police - “safe and well” - in Carseview Hospital, Dundee.

Fifty-four-year-old Iain Macmillan, of Meal Vennel, first appeared on indictment at Perth Sheriff Court on April 10.

His case was continued for a week to allow his lawyer to get a report from his GP to determine whether he was fit to give instructions.

That followed a “history of mental health problems over a number of years.”

Solicitor Linda Clark told the court on Tuesday afternoon that the accused had “presented himself” at Carseview earlier that morning.

Depute fiscal John Malpass said he was “grateful to the police” for making prompt inquiries regarding his whereabouts.

“There was concern for the accused that something might have happened to him,” he explained.

“We received information this afternoon that he is safe and well.”

Noting that he was a “voluntary patient” at Carseview, Sheriff William Wood said he may have suffered from stress at the prospect of his court appearance.

Macmillan faces a charge alleging that between July 24, 2009, and March 31, 2014, at Abbey Road and Perth Road, both Scone, High Street, South Street, South Methven Street, Crieff Road and Edinburgh Road, all Perth, as well as High Street, Auchterarder, while having power of attorney over Ruby Macmillan’s affairs - she was born on January 16, 1934 - he embezzled £63,495.

Mr Malpass was granted a warrant for the arrest of the accused but said it wouldn’t be enforced before liaising with the accused’s lawyer.