A former SNP MP, accused of embezzling greater than £25,000, transferred hundreds of pro-independence group funds from her checking account earlier than paying hire, a courtroom has heard.
Natalie McGarry, 40, stated the funds had been “reputable” transfers for what she was owed in bills.
McGarry, who represented Glasgow East, allegedly embezzled £21,000 whereas treasurer for Ladies for Independence (WFI) between April 26 2013 and November 30 2015.
A second cost alleges she took £4,661 between April 9 2014 and August 2015 when she was treasurer, secretary and convener of the Glasgow Regional Affiliation (GRA) of the SNP.
The very first thing you probably did was make a fee to your hire. You had £50 in your account previous to that
Alistair Mitchell, prosecutor
McGarry, who’s on trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court docket, denies each expenses.
On April 29 2014, McGarry transferred £10,472.54 raised on an IndyGoGo fundraiser for WFI tasks into her personal checking account.
Prosecutor, Alistair Mitchell, confirmed McGarry financial institution statements and stated: “The very first thing you probably did was make a fee to your hire.
“You had £50 in your account previous to that.”
McGarry denied transferring the funds particularly to pay her hire.
She stated: “I’d not have used the cash had I not legitimately spent the cash.
“By this level in April, we had spent some huge cash sending out the [WFI] packs and buying different issues.
“I used to be due a reimbursement from WFI.”
She then added: “I’m completely content material that when these monies had been paid I had already spent them on WFI functions.”
Earlier, McGarry instructed the courtroom she was not “skint” regardless of proof from witnesses claiming in any other case.
She had acquired £1500 to £1600 in money every month from members of the family which allowed her to pay for payments and help her campaigning.
The courtroom earlier heard that McGarry “panicked” when requested to submit receipts and invoices to point out her spending for the pro-independence organisation.
McGarry stated many of those receipts weren’t saved, significantly from the early years of the organisation when the group operated on “belief”.
Mr Mitchell requested McGarry if one of many causes for the numerous delay in offering proof to WFI was as a result of the group wished full information.
“I believe I panicked,” she stated. “Abruptly the brand new government wished (receipts) that we by no means had.
“In 2013 and 2014 issues had been fairly chaotic. I ought to have simply stated, ‘truly we didn’t hold these’.”
McGarry additionally instructed the courtroom she had a spreadsheet saved to her iCloud which accounted for her private outgoings and WFI spending.
Mr Mitchell requested McGarry why this data was not supplied to WFI as proof of spending.
Nevertheless, her telephone with the paperwork had been taken as a part of the investigation by police, McGarry instructed the courtroom.
McGarry stated when she bought her telephone again in about 2021, some paperwork had been eliminated – together with the monetary spreadsheet.
“She stated: “There was 10 years’ price of knowledge on there, that’s gone.”
Additional financial institution information confirmed a sum of £1,200 being paid into McGarry’s account from the WFI PayPal.
Mr Mitchell then confirmed McGarry statements with funds made to O2, Amigo Loans and clothes shops Without end 21 and City Outfitters.
McGarry stated: “I did have a life and I did spend cash for issues utilizing the cash that was given to me.”
She instructed the courtroom it was “umbrage” to deposit the money presents from her family members into her checking account each time.
The courtroom heard that McGarry saved a word of reimbursements she was owed from WFI bills.
Mr Mitchell stated: “You diligently saved monitor of cash going out and in. That appears fairly the alternative of disorganised.”
It had steered earlier within the trial that McGarry was “disorganised” in her submitting of knowledge regarding WFI.
She replied: “When it comes to ensuring I used to be reimbursed, I had a vested curiosity in ensuring I wasn’t dropping out.”
The trial, earlier than Sheriff Tom Hughes, continues.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
