Charges… and more to come

As we said in our post of 12th June when the Director of City Development was suspended “Many of these have now also been suspended or sacked and will end up being visitors with Sue Grabbit and Runne to the home of M’Lud Sheriff in Chambers Street in the not too distant future” Although it took almost a week longer than expected they charges finally came out yesterday through a press release from the council. All four sacked members of the Property Care department that were fired, are now helping Lothian & Borders finest with their enquiries before their first appearance before the beak due in the not too distant future. Our sources tell us that the evidence against the accused is ‘rock solid’.

We also believe that there seems to be evidence to charge suspended Director of City Development, Dave Anderson, with Misconduct in Public Office, the elements of which were summarised in Attorney General’s Reference No 3 of 2003 [2004] EWCA Crim 868 (‘AG Ref No 3′):

The offence is committed when:

a public officer acting as such wilfully neglects to perform his duty and/or wilfully misconducts himself to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust in the office holder without reasonable excuse or justification.

Our sources also tell us that there are companies, where members of staff and/or company directors were charged in this first tranche, that are still getting council jobs either directly or indirectly as subcontractors. What is the point of paying £1.5m on a Deloitte report if the same companies investigated and are found at fault are allowed to continue council contracts including the one from the Honest Toun.

The council’s rent collecter, Mark ‘best shag ever’ Turley is throwing out quotes like there is no tomorrow, most of which can be paraphrased as “it wisnae me, honest”. Perhaps Cathy’s ‘best shag ever’ could inform us whether the FOUR HIGH RANKING COUNCIL OFFICIALS who had concerns voiced to them about the funny goings-on just allowed the alleged fraud to continue and continue and continue. Although he tells the press that they are working hard on the statutory notices complaints, we will bring you information of just how that is a ‘crock of shit’.

Councillor Stefan Tymkewycz tells the Evening News today that he is not aware of the details of the allegations. Perhaps he should first of all explain his conflict of interest as his Fowler Terrace property, which is part of his £2m property portfolio (according to the Evening News) is in fact bang in the middle of the investigation and was featured on the BBC Scotland “Scotland’s Property Scandal” programme which aired on BBC1 on Tuesday 20th September 2011 at 10:35pm.

Developing……

More info:
Money-laundering and corruption charges rock Edinburgh council
Charges brought over council repairs in Edinburgh
15 charged in connection with ‘corruption and fraud’ at Edinburgh Council
15 charged with fraud over Edinburgh repairs scandal