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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sturgeon faces resignation call | Sturgeon faces resignation call |
| (18 minutes later) | |
| Scotland's deputy first minister is facing calls to resign after writing a letter in support of a man who could be jailed for benefit fraud. | Scotland's deputy first minister is facing calls to resign after writing a letter in support of a man who could be jailed for benefit fraud. |
| Nicola Sturgeon said she was "duty-bound" as a constituency MSP to make "reasonable representations" on behalf of 60-year-old Abdul Rauf. | Nicola Sturgeon said she was "duty-bound" as a constituency MSP to make "reasonable representations" on behalf of 60-year-old Abdul Rauf. |
| He defrauded more than £80,000 from the Department for Work and Pensions. | He defrauded more than £80,000 from the Department for Work and Pensions. |
| Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said Ms Sturgeon had shown an "appalling lack of judgement" and should quit. | Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said Ms Sturgeon had shown an "appalling lack of judgement" and should quit. |
| Glasgow Sheriff Court heard how Rauf admitted failing to declare a £200,000 property in Edinburgh on his application for income support. He subsequently received £650 a month in rent while he claimed the benefits between 2001 and 2006. | Glasgow Sheriff Court heard how Rauf admitted failing to declare a £200,000 property in Edinburgh on his application for income support. He subsequently received £650 a month in rent while he claimed the benefits between 2001 and 2006. |
| Brian TaylorPolitical editor Did she have a "duty", as she says, to act as she did? | Brian TaylorPolitical editor Did she have a "duty", as she says, to act as she did? |
| It might be argued that she had a duty to respond to an approach from a constituent or one lodged on his behalf. | It might be argued that she had a duty to respond to an approach from a constituent or one lodged on his behalf. |
| It might be argued further that she did not have to write to the court. | It might be argued further that she did not have to write to the court. |
| These matters are a question of judgement. | These matters are a question of judgement. |
| Read Brian Taylor's blog | Read Brian Taylor's blog |
| At the same time he was living in a £400,000 house in Glasgow's Maxwell Park area. | At the same time he was living in a £400,000 house in Glasgow's Maxwell Park area. |
| In her letter to the court Ms Sturgeon said Rauf had already repaid £27,000 of the money owed and had said he was going to sell one of his properties to repay the rest of the cash. | In her letter to the court Ms Sturgeon said Rauf had already repaid £27,000 of the money owed and had said he was going to sell one of his properties to repay the rest of the cash. |
| The MSP for Glasgow Govan, who said she became aware of the case in July 2008, also pointed out in the letter that Rauf had suffered from poor health for a number of years and had a family with children under the age of 10. | The MSP for Glasgow Govan, who said she became aware of the case in July 2008, also pointed out in the letter that Rauf had suffered from poor health for a number of years and had a family with children under the age of 10. |
| She asked the court not to jail him because of the impact that might have on his health and family life. | She asked the court not to jail him because of the impact that might have on his health and family life. |
| Sheriff Alan MacKenzie told Rauf that a jail term was "at the forefront" of his mind but said he would defer sentence for three months and released him on bail. | Sheriff Alan MacKenzie told Rauf that a jail term was "at the forefront" of his mind but said he would defer sentence for three months and released him on bail. |
| The conviction is Rauf's second for fraud - in 1996 he was given a four-year sentence for stealing nearly £60,000 in pension and benefit payments when he was a sub-post master at Tollcross in Edinburgh. | The conviction is Rauf's second for fraud - in 1996 he was given a four-year sentence for stealing nearly £60,000 in pension and benefit payments when he was a sub-post master at Tollcross in Edinburgh. |
| 'Beggars belief' | |
| Ms Sturgeon told the BBC: "This constituent accepted his wrongdoing, he has made attempts to pay back some of the money, but those are matters for the court to take into account. | Ms Sturgeon told the BBC: "This constituent accepted his wrongdoing, he has made attempts to pay back some of the money, but those are matters for the court to take into account. |
| "I'm duty-bound to make reasonable representations, that's what I did as a constituency MSP, and ultimately it is for the court to make a decision about the disposal of the case." | "I'm duty-bound to make reasonable representations, that's what I did as a constituency MSP, and ultimately it is for the court to make a decision about the disposal of the case." |
| The SNP have also referred to reports which claimed Gordon Brown also made representations to a court on behalf of a constituent who admitted growing cannabis plants - although the man did not have any previous convictions. | The SNP have also referred to reports which claimed Gordon Brown also made representations to a court on behalf of a constituent who admitted growing cannabis plants - although the man did not have any previous convictions. |
| The Conservatives described Ms Sturgeon's intervention as "ill considered" for someone in her position, while the Liberal Democrats said it "beggars belief". | The Conservatives described Ms Sturgeon's intervention as "ill considered" for someone in her position, while the Liberal Democrats said it "beggars belief". |