Former SNP MP Mcgarry charged with embezzling £41,500 from fundraisers
FORMER MP Natalie Mcgarry has appeared in court charged with embezzling more than £41,500.
The 36-year-old is accused of transferring fundraising cash into her personal account – as well as failing to pass on donations to a food bank.
Ms Mcgarry appeared in private at Glasgow Sheriff Court.
Prosecutors claim she embezzled money while treasurer of the Women for Independence group (WFI) – which she helped found in 2012 – and while also treasurer, secretary and convener of the SNP’S Glasgow Regional Association.
She faces three charges of embezzlement, two of filing inaccurate returns from the independence referendum, and a failure to disclose “encrypted electronic data”.
The former Glasgow East MP – who was one of 56 SNP MPS elected in 2015’s general election landslide – made no plea and was released on bail.
Papers from the court allege that between January 2012 and November 2015 Ms Mcgarry, in the course of her role as treasurer for WFI, embezzled £33,011.
It is claimed she transferred funds raised through fundraising events into her personal account, and failed to transfer charitable donations to the Perth and Kinross food bank and to Positive Prison Positive Futures. It is also alleged she used cheques held in the name of WFI to deposit money into her own account, as well as embezzling £4,661 between January 2011 and May 2016.
During her role with the SNP’S Glasgow Regional Association, she is accused of using cheques in its name and donations for her own use.
The third embezzlement charge – totalling £3,892 – allegedly took place between November 2012 and June 2014. She is accused of transferring money raised through an online crowdfunding campaign for “Yes Glasgow” into her own account.