Former SNPMP embezzled about £ 25,000 from two independent groups was imprisoned for two years
Natalie Magary, 40, who represented Glasgow East between 2015 and 2017, was convicted of embezzlement twice in May after a trial in Glasgow State Court.
The jury convicted her of a majority of the crimes of spending £ 19,974 while accounting for the Women for Independence (WFI) between April 26, 2013 and November 30, 2015. ..
She was also the accountant, secretary, and convenor of the SNP’s Glasgow Regional Association for most of her second indictment, receiving £ 4,661 between April 9, 2014 and August 10, 2015. Was convicted by.
Through your role in these crimes, not only have you betrayed your trust in you by others, but your standards are far below the standards that the public should have the right to expect from the MP.
Sheriff Tom Hughes said he had sentenced McGarry to betray those who trusted her and that a custodial sentence was inevitable.
He told her: “It is very clear that society has the right to seek high public office and to expect the highest standards from those who will ultimately achieve it.”
“Through your role in these crimes, not only have you betrayed the trust of others, but your standards are far below the standards that the public should have the right to expect from the MP.”
Sheriffs described the crime as “a very serious accusation that took place over a long period of time.”
During the six-week trial, the court said it reported McGarry after noticing a significant shortage of WFI accounts from dozens of witnesses, including former Scottish Minister of Health Jeane Freeman.
Ms. Freeman said she did not expect donations for group independence to be sent from the organization’s PayPal account to McGarry’s personal bank account.
She also complained to McGarry, who was late in delivering receipts and invoices showing what the funds were spent on.
The court also heard from witnesses that McGarry has personal financial difficulties and is regularly financed by family and friends.
This includes Humza Yousaf, the current Scottish Cabinet Health Secretary, giving McGarry £ 600 to prevent her from being kicked out of the house.
The court also looked at McGarry’s bank records and showed that a crowdfunding donation from WFI had been transferred to her own personal account.
This included £ 10,472.52 on April 29, 2014 and an additional £ 9,848.70 on November 12, 2014. This is what she used to pay for her rent and shopping.
McGarry said these were “reasonable” costs she would bear and reimburse herself.
In Thursday’s ruling, defense agent Alan MacLeod urged sheriffs to deal with his clients as generously as possible.
He states: “It’s hard to exaggerate the significant impact these crimes have had on McGarry’s life.
“In 2015, she was a member of parliament. This was a lifelong achievement. It turned into a life that was almost unimaginable seven years ago.
“The past seven years have been almost intolerable to her. As a result of these crimes, she was banished to her former colleagues, those she was friends with, and lost her parliamentary seat.”
He said McGarry was largely “withdrawn from life itself” and her main focus is now on caring for a four-year-old child.
McGarry was elected an SNP member in 2015, but resigned from the party’s general affairs after allegations of fraud. This is what she denied.
She remained in parliament as an independent member of Glasgow East, but did not seek re-election in 2017.
McGarry previously appeared in court for embezzlement in 2018.
She was sentenced to 18 months in prison in a Glasgow state court in June 2019 after pleading guilty to embezzlement of more than £ 25,000.
A few days later she tried to withdraw the two guilty fleas, but the sheriff decided it was impossible.
She began imprisonment for 18 months, was released on bail a few days later, and the appeal was put on hold.
The conviction was revoked in December 2019, and McGarry was later notified of a new indictment.