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Sturgeon admits court plea error Sturgeon 'sorry' over court plea
(16 minutes later)
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has apologised for an "error of judgement" in asking for alternatives to custody for a convicted fraudster.Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has apologised for an "error of judgement" in asking for alternatives to custody for a convicted fraudster.
In a statement to MSPs, Ms Sturgeon said she had acted in good faith but the wording of her letter was "wrong".In a statement to MSPs, Ms Sturgeon said she had acted in good faith but the wording of her letter was "wrong".
The letter on behalf of constituent Abdul Rauf, who defrauded £80,000 from the Department of Work and Pensions, was condemned by opposition parties.The letter on behalf of constituent Abdul Rauf, who defrauded £80,000 from the Department of Work and Pensions, was condemned by opposition parties.
They argued it amounted to a serious error of judgement.They argued it amounted to a serious error of judgement.
Ms Sturgeon wrote to Glasgow Sheriff Court suggesting that 60-year-old Rauf might be spared prison on grounds of ill health. During her statement at Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon said she had given serious consideration to the criticisms levelled at her over writing the letter.
In the letter, Ms Sturgeon stated: "Mr Rauf has accepted his wrong doing and has experienced the consequences of it through the effect on his health, the distress caused to his family and the impact on his standing in his community. She said: "I do believe in certain respects it could, and should, have been written differently.
I assisted a constituent in good faith and for what I considered to be the right reasons, but in doing so I did get some things wrong and for that I am sorry Nicola Sturgeon MSPDeputy First Minister
"I regret the use of the word 'mistake' to describe Mr Rauf's offence.
"As I hope will become clear from other parts of the letter, I did not intend to downplay the seriousness of the crime that had been committed.
"However, I accept the use of the word mistake was open to that interpretation."
The deputy first minister also said that, on reflection, she should not have asked the court to consider alternatives to custody.
"Having drawn the court's attention to Mr Rauf's personal circumstances, I should have left it there," she said.
"I should not have gone on to ask the court to specifically consider alternatives to custody.
"On reflection, that was a request more suited to my former occupation as a solicitor than to my current job as an MSP."
Ms Sturgeon added: "In short, I assisted a constituent in good faith and for what I considered to be the right reasons, but in doing so I did get some things wrong and for that I am sorry."
Custodial alternativesCustodial alternatives
The letter which Ms Sturgeon wrote to Glasgow Sheriff Court suggested that 60-year-old Rauf might be spared prison on grounds of ill health.
In it, Ms Sturgeon stated: "Mr Rauf has accepted his wrong doing and has experienced the consequences of it through the effect on his health, the distress caused to his family and the impact on his standing in his community.
"He and his wife are anxious that a custodial sentence may be imposed by the court and of the effect this will have on Mr Rauf's health and the impact on family life."He and his wife are anxious that a custodial sentence may be imposed by the court and of the effect this will have on Mr Rauf's health and the impact on family life.
"I would appeal to the court to take the points raised here into account and consider alternatives to a custodial sentence.""I would appeal to the court to take the points raised here into account and consider alternatives to a custodial sentence."
She also said Rauf had paid back £27,000 to the DWP and would settle the remainder by selling property.
Rauf, who has a previous conviction for fraud, was released on bail after being told by Sheriff Alan MacKenzie that a prison term was "at the forefront" of his mind when the case calls again for sentencing.Rauf, who has a previous conviction for fraud, was released on bail after being told by Sheriff Alan MacKenzie that a prison term was "at the forefront" of his mind when the case calls again for sentencing.
He was given a four-year prison sentence in 1996 for taking almost £60,000 in pension and benefit payments when he was a sub-post master at Tollcross in Edinburgh.