This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/5382608.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Cancer funds fraudster faces jail Cancer funds fraudster faces jail
(about 3 hours later)
A man has admitted taking almost half a million pounds from his cancer fundraising company.A man has admitted taking almost half a million pounds from his cancer fundraising company.
Tony Freeman, 40, from Glasgow, admitted fraudulently removing more than £450,000 from his business before it went into liquidation.Tony Freeman, 40, from Glasgow, admitted fraudulently removing more than £450,000 from his business before it went into liquidation.
He said the fundraising company owed the money for a computer software deal.He said the fundraising company owed the money for a computer software deal.
Instead, the money was transferred to an account in Cyprus. Freeman was remanded in custody and will be sentenced in Glasgow next month.Instead, the money was transferred to an account in Cyprus. Freeman was remanded in custody and will be sentenced in Glasgow next month.
Solutions Recruitment and Management Consultancy was launched in December 2000.Solutions Recruitment and Management Consultancy was launched in December 2000.
Bank accounts frozen Mr Freeman took advantage of the support there is for people affected by breast cancer Lorraine DallasBreast Cancer Research Scotland
Up until the middle of 2003, Freeman was paying himself £190,000 a year to run the company.Up until the middle of 2003, Freeman was paying himself £190,000 a year to run the company.
But his activities came under the scrutiny of the watchdog the Scottish Charities Office and charity commissioners south of the Border.But his activities came under the scrutiny of the watchdog the Scottish Charities Office and charity commissioners south of the Border.
They found Freeman's two clients - Paisley-based Breast Cancer Research (Scotland) and their sister organisation Breast Cancer Relief based in Manchester - had paid millions for his services.They found Freeman's two clients - Paisley-based Breast Cancer Research (Scotland) and their sister organisation Breast Cancer Relief based in Manchester - had paid millions for his services.
The result was that the charities' bank accounts were frozen.The result was that the charities' bank accounts were frozen.
Lorraine Dallas of Breast Cancer Research said: "Mr Freeman took advantage of the support there is for people affected by creast cancer sufferers.
"He will have to live with the guilt of taking advantage of that very personal experience for the rest of his life."
The charity promised to offer relief to cancer sufferersThe charity promised to offer relief to cancer sufferers
Then a judge at the Court of Session in Edinburgh ordered that Freeman and three other trustees should play no further part in their running.Then a judge at the Court of Session in Edinburgh ordered that Freeman and three other trustees should play no further part in their running.
The investigation uncovered a £11.5m hole.The investigation uncovered a £11.5m hole.
More than £13m had been donated but only pounds £1.5m had been passed on to good causes. More than £13m had been donated but only £1.5m had been passed on to good causes.
Freeman was supposed to have collected £8m of the £1.5m in commission for his role as fundraiser. Freeman was supposed to have collected £8m of the £11.5m in commission for his role as fundraiser.
The Scottish Charities Office claimed the cancer charity had been "used as a vehicle for Mr Freeman and Solutions RMC to collect money and charge excessive commission".The Scottish Charities Office claimed the cancer charity had been "used as a vehicle for Mr Freeman and Solutions RMC to collect money and charge excessive commission".
Charity commissioners in England moved in to freeze the accounts of the Manchester cancer charity, believing that Solutions RMC were also taking considerable sums from them.Charity commissioners in England moved in to freeze the accounts of the Manchester cancer charity, believing that Solutions RMC were also taking considerable sums from them.
Software claimSoftware claim
Freeman himself was banned from running any charity in the UK and in June 2003 and after the Court of Session hearing, Solutions RMC went into liquidation.Freeman himself was banned from running any charity in the UK and in June 2003 and after the Court of Session hearing, Solutions RMC went into liquidation.
The figures uncovered by the Scottish Charities Office also prompted a police investigation which eventually led to Freeman's arrest.The figures uncovered by the Scottish Charities Office also prompted a police investigation which eventually led to Freeman's arrest.
The investigation found that on 30 May, Freeman pretended to staff that £450,337.65 was due to Eesh Aggarwal Ltd for providing Solutions RMC with computer software.The investigation found that on 30 May, Freeman pretended to staff that £450,337.65 was due to Eesh Aggarwal Ltd for providing Solutions RMC with computer software.
He even produced paperwork to back up the bogus deal and asked the firm's accountant to sign a cheque. The money ended up in the Federal Bank of the Middle East.He even produced paperwork to back up the bogus deal and asked the firm's accountant to sign a cheque. The money ended up in the Federal Bank of the Middle East.
Proceeds of crime I want to see Mr Freeman punished well Sam McFauldsFundraiser
The court heard that Mr Aggarwal was a chartered accountant and tax specialist but not a software developer.The court heard that Mr Aggarwal was a chartered accountant and tax specialist but not a software developer.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, he was ordered to pay back £210,000 of the proceeds of his crime within five weeks.At the High Court in Edinburgh, he was ordered to pay back £210,000 of the proceeds of his crime within five weeks.
Sam McFaulds raised thousands for the charity after his wife died of breast cancer.
He said: "I raised £10,000 and it was a pleasure to do that. I would do the same again.
"But I want to see Mr Freeman punished well, I think he should rot in jail."
Advocate depute Graeme Jessop, prosecuting, said Freeman had been the sole director of Solutions RMC.Advocate depute Graeme Jessop, prosecuting, said Freeman had been the sole director of Solutions RMC.
The company ran a lottery, door to door collections and used volunteers to sell raffle tickets. The turnover was in the region of £5.4 million a year. Tighter control
The company ran a lottery, door to door collections and used volunteers to sell raffle tickets. The turnover was in the region of £5.4m a year.
Freeman's guilty plea to a breach of the 1986 Insolvency Act halted plans for a five-week trial which was due to begin next week.Freeman's guilty plea to a breach of the 1986 Insolvency Act halted plans for a five-week trial which was due to begin next week.
His not guilty pleas to other charges, including tax dodging and breaching the Proceeds of Crime Act by taking money out of the country were accepted.His not guilty pleas to other charges, including tax dodging and breaching the Proceeds of Crime Act by taking money out of the country were accepted.
The investigation back in 2003 prompted the Scottish Parliament to look at ways of bringing the country's estimated 30,000 charities under tighter control to increase public confidence.The investigation back in 2003 prompted the Scottish Parliament to look at ways of bringing the country's estimated 30,000 charities under tighter control to increase public confidence.