former SNP MP who embezzled nearly £ 25,000 from two pro-independence groups should be sentenced.
Natalie McGarry, 40, who represented Glasgow East between 2015 and 2017, was found guilty in May of two counts of embezzlement – a total of £ 24,635 – after a trial at the Sheriff’s Court in Glasgow.
A jury found her in the majority guilty of a charge of embezzlement of £ 19 974 while she was treasurer of Women for Independence (WFI) between 26 April 2013 and 30 November 2015.
She was also found guilty by the majority of a second charge of taking £ 4,661 between 9 April 2014 and 10 August 2015 when she was treasurer, secretary and convener of the Glasgow Regional Association of the SNP.
McGarry will return to Glasgow Sheriff’s Court on Thursday for sentencing.
During the six-week trial, the court heard from dozens of witnesses, including Scotland’s former health secretary Jeane Freeman, who said she reported McGarry after noticing a significant shortfall in WFI accounts.
Ms Freeman said she had no idea donations to the group’s independence Crowdfunder from the organization’s PayPal account would go to McGarry’s personal bank account.
She also expressed her frustrations over McGarry’s delay in handing over receipts and invoices that would show what the funds were spent on.
The court also heard from witnesses that McGarry had personal financial problems and regularly received loans from family and friends.
These include Humza Yousaf, the current Scottish Health Secretary, who gave McGarry £ 600 to prevent her from being evicted from her home.
The court also saw McGarry’s bank records, which show Crowdfunder donations from WFI being transferred to her own personal account.
That included £ 10,472.52 on 29 April 2014 and a further £ 9,848.70 on 12 November 2014 – which she used to pay for rent and shopping.
McGarry said it was “legal” expenses she had incurred and for which she was compensating herself.
The 40-year-old was elected an SNP member in 2015, but resigned the party whip after the rise of fraud allegations – which she denied.
She continued in Parliament as an independent MP representing Glasgow East, but did not seek re-election in 2017.