Former Tory treasurer Malcolm Macaskill is found to have defrauded £1m. Funds funneled via sandwich firms and party accounts.
Macaskill laundered £200,000 via local Conservative parties in Glasgow and Rutherglen, where he was treasurer and deputy chairman.
He then moved more cash through his wives’ bank accounts. Both his current and former wives received money.
Macaskill took many holidays and bought a Harley Davidson motorbike. He also shopped in London at Harrods.
He faced charges including VAT fraud and receiving criminal property.
Macaskill lives in Cambuslang but doctors said he was unfit for trial due to a brain tumor.
A hearing took place at Glasgow Sheriff Court, examining the case without a jury. This reviewed all the facts.
Sheriff Paul Reid concluded that the facts against Macaskill were “established”.
Macaskill wasn’t at most of the hearing and still lives at his home. The case got delayed until later this year.
The scam lasted from 2003 to 2014. Macaskill ran two sandwich firms: Bigga Bites and Kwik Snax.
The court learned he filed 34 false forms, falsely authorizing Bigga Bites repayments. The repayments totaled £864,971.72.
He faked an NHS contract, getting him £88,543 in 2008 from a VAT return claim.
Macaskill deposited fraud money into Conservative party accounts in Rutherglen, Cambuslang, and Glasgow.
Eleven cheques went to Kwik Snax, totaling £8,617, from the Rutherglen account.
Fifty-two cheques also went to Kwik Snax, these totaled £193,790, originating from the Glasgow forum.
Two cheques went straight to him, worth £6,300, these also came from the organization.
Reporting got delayed, waiting for his wives’ trial to end. They are Louise Macaskill and Moya Macaskill.
They were charged with acquiring criminal money totaling £864,961. A verdict of not proven came, applying to both women.
Louise said she didn’t realize over £104,000 entered her account over four years, noticing it in 2014.
The 64-year-old worked at Lloyds TSB and Clydesdale Bank. She said she worked hard and had a pension and a flat.
Louise sent Macaskill £20,000 to his business account, saying she wanted to “help” him.
The court heard about £9000 being withdrawn in 2009. They used it to buy a Harley Davidson.
Louise said she didn’t know the full extent of the fraud and learned about it at the trial.
Prosecutor Jessica McGowan questioned her, asking about trusting Macaskill. Louise said she regretted it “very much.”
Macaskill’s ex-wife is Moya, also 64 years old, and she helped with his sandwich business. He said he would “help me out,” but she was not paid a wage.
Moya received large sums of money and used it to cover bills, including her own and the business’ bills.
They separated in 2001, but Moya still worked for Macaskill. They divorced in 2010, and she earns less than minimum wage.
Moya said there were “no financial arrangements” and struggled to pay her bills, nearly losing her house.
Macaskill bailed her out while on a golfing trip in Florida. Her lawyer asked if she went on fancy trips, and she said no.
Moya wasn’t aware of the fraud and would not have been happy if she knew the money came from criminal activity.
Macaskill was meant to be on trial too but had a brain tumor, diagnosed in 2022.
Sheriff Reid commented on the charges, saying Macaskill acted deliberately, wanting money he didn’t deserve.
He used the political parties to launder a large sum of money.
Sheriff Reid said Macaskill broke the law beyond reasonable doubt.
Macaskill used to be a judge, and a photo shows him with David Cameron.
He got a settlement in 2012 after being dumped by the Scottish Conservatives. He was a Holyrood candidate, and Ruth Davidson replaced him, entering parliament. Macaskill called the Scottish Tories corrupt.