Ex MEP jailed for 4 years

[Osem]

Another Euro-snout-in-the-trough for whom the already generous perks and privileges clearly weren't sufficient.

An MEP who dishonestly claimed about £100,000 in expenses with a "sustained pattern of stealing" has been jailed for four years.

Peter Skinner, 56, who was Labour MEP for the South East from 1999 to 2014, was found guilty of three charges after a trial at Southwark Crown Court.

He claimed thousands of pounds for support staff, which actually funded jewellery, restaurants and hotel stays.

Sentencing Skinner, of Snodland, Kent, the judge said he had abused trust.

The politician made fraudulent payments of £10,000 a month to his wife from December 2007 until July 2009.

This entitled him to claim secretarial or parliamentary assistance allowance.

He also created a fake letter claiming his father was working for him, to justify his payments of £5,000 every three months, his trial heard.

In total Skinner claimed £480,000 in expenses, about £100,000 of that was fraudulent.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-36167299

I note the rather convenient 'confused over EU rules' excuse but it seems to have been more a case of being 'confused' over the difference between legality and illegality.

[solitaire]

Originally Posted by Osem

Another Euro-snout-in-the-trough for whom the already generous perks and privileges clearly weren't sufficient.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-36167299

I note the rather convenient 'confused over EU rules' excuse but it seems to have been more a case of being 'confused' over the difference between legality and illegality.

I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of these people who think they can get away with these fiddles. Don't they ever think that they will get found out one day.

[Taf]

They probably get trained by other Eurocrats who have done it for years but haven't been caught.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Taf

They probably get trained by other Eurocrats who have done it for years but haven't been caught.

I wouldn't be surprised if they put their 'training' on the old Euro-expenses too! Grrr...

[pip08456]

I wonder if the c£100,000 has been reclaimed as the proceeds of crime?

[denphone]

Typical of politicians who preach to us but can't preach to themselves..

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by pip08456

I wonder if the c£100,000 has been reclaimed as the proceeds of crime?

He now faces a confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

[pip08456]

I hope so.