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| Saatchi finance director says Nigella PA bills 'not scrutinised' | Saatchi finance director says Nigella PA bills 'not scrutinised' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Charles Saatchi's accountant has told a court he did not scrutinise bills for credit cards used by Nigella Lawson's assistants because it was "not my job". | Charles Saatchi's accountant has told a court he did not scrutinise bills for credit cards used by Nigella Lawson's assistants because it was "not my job". |
| Rahul Gajjar, finance director for Ms Lawson's ex-husband, said his team were "there to look after business" and not to check home-spending. | Rahul Gajjar, finance director for Ms Lawson's ex-husband, said his team were "there to look after business" and not to check home-spending. |
| He was giving evidence at Isleworth Crown Court in the trial of Francesca, 35, and Elisabetta Grillo, 41. | |
| The sisters deny fraudulently using credit cards. | |
| The Grillos' defence has claimed the pair, of Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, were given permission to use the business cards by Ms Lawson to cover her use of drugs. | |
| Mr Gajjar told the court Coutts cards were issued to the personal assistants after Mr Saatchi decided to use credit cards for all household spending. | Mr Gajjar told the court Coutts cards were issued to the personal assistants after Mr Saatchi decided to use credit cards for all household spending. |
| 'Cheaper on eBay' | |
| "We would look through the summaries [to] see what the general spending would be, but in terms of the detail we wouldn't get involved in 'what's this [or] that for?'" | "We would look through the summaries [to] see what the general spending would be, but in terms of the detail we wouldn't get involved in 'what's this [or] that for?'" |
| Anthony Metzer QC, defending Elizabetta Grillo, asked Mr Gajjar if he would have been concerned if a large sum had been spent. | Anthony Metzer QC, defending Elizabetta Grillo, asked Mr Gajjar if he would have been concerned if a large sum had been spent. |
| "If Charles wanted to buy an expensive gift for Nigella, it would not be my job to say 'you could have got it cheaper on eBay'," he said. | "If Charles wanted to buy an expensive gift for Nigella, it would not be my job to say 'you could have got it cheaper on eBay'," he said. |
| When questioned whether Mr Saatchi was aware that the cards were not being scrutinised, he said his employer was "well aware that we have never scrutinised his home expenses". | When questioned whether Mr Saatchi was aware that the cards were not being scrutinised, he said his employer was "well aware that we have never scrutinised his home expenses". |
| "It was for the home to consider these expenses," he said. | "It was for the home to consider these expenses," he said. |
| The court heard there were a few occasions when Francesca's credit card was declined while on holiday, possibly because it had exceeded its limit, and that she sent Mr Gajjur a text message about it. | |
| He said: "There were a few occurrences where we had to raise the limit because previously he [Mr Saatchi] didn't want the card to be stopped when it involved the house and the children." | |
| Asked if he had considered that Francesca was taking cash out on her credit card, he said: "I don't know if I considered cash", but added that Mr Saatchi and Ms Lawson regularly requested bundles of cash for the home. | |
| The case continues. | The case continues. |