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Ex-Charles Saatchi employee says Grillo case evidence 'career suicide' Ex-Charles Saatchi employee says Grillo case evidence 'career suicide'
(35 minutes later)
A woman who worked for Charles Saatchi has said she was "committing career suicide" by giving evidence in support of two PAs accused of defrauding him and his former wife Nigella Lawson.A woman who worked for Charles Saatchi has said she was "committing career suicide" by giving evidence in support of two PAs accused of defrauding him and his former wife Nigella Lawson.
Sharrine Scholtz was a financial assistant to Mr Saatchi.Sharrine Scholtz was a financial assistant to Mr Saatchi.
She said she had been accused of using a company taxi account without authorisation and forced to sign a gagging clause when leaving her job.She said she had been accused of using a company taxi account without authorisation and forced to sign a gagging clause when leaving her job.
Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo deny fraudulently using credit cards.Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo deny fraudulently using credit cards.
'Truth needed''Truth needed'
Miss Scholtz told Isleworth Crown Court she was forced to leave her job and sign a compromise agreement after setting up her own gallery.Miss Scholtz told Isleworth Crown Court she was forced to leave her job and sign a compromise agreement after setting up her own gallery.
She said: "I have everything to lose by standing up here and nothing to gain."She said: "I have everything to lose by standing up here and nothing to gain."
She said she was "committing career suicide by speaking up" and insisted: "I'm here to speak the truth".She said she was "committing career suicide by speaking up" and insisted: "I'm here to speak the truth".
"Anyone who speaks up against the Saatchi Gallery black marks themselves from working for anybody else in the art world," she added."Anyone who speaks up against the Saatchi Gallery black marks themselves from working for anybody else in the art world," she added.
When asked why she was prepared to assist the Grillo sisters, she said: "Somebody needs to speak up now and most people are too scared."When asked why she was prepared to assist the Grillo sisters, she said: "Somebody needs to speak up now and most people are too scared."
She said if she had not signed a gagging clause when leaving her job she feared "perhaps I would be standing here instead of Elisabetta and Francesca".She said if she had not signed a gagging clause when leaving her job she feared "perhaps I would be standing here instead of Elisabetta and Francesca".
Miss Scholtz worked under Mr Saatchi's finance director Rahul Gajjar for four-and-a-half years until 2009.Miss Scholtz worked under Mr Saatchi's finance director Rahul Gajjar for four-and-a-half years until 2009.
'Staff welfare'
Anthony Metzer QC, defending Elisabetta, asked if members of staff were able to spend on designer goods.
Miss Scholtz said: "As far as I was aware, they were authorised by Nigella and Saatchi. It would come under staff welfare."
The court also heard character references for Elisabetta Grillo including the description of her as an "exemplary employee" by Jane Winkworth, founder of the French Sole shoe company, who said the fraud allegations were "totally out of Lisa's character".
The defendants are accused of spending £685,000 on credit cards belonging to the celebrity couple to buy designer goods and luxury holidays.The defendants are accused of spending £685,000 on credit cards belonging to the celebrity couple to buy designer goods and luxury holidays.
The Grillos' defence argues Ms Lawson consented to the PAs spending as they were "intimately connected to her private life and were aware of the drug use which she wanted to keep from her then-husband Charles Saatchi".The Grillos' defence argues Ms Lawson consented to the PAs spending as they were "intimately connected to her private life and were aware of the drug use which she wanted to keep from her then-husband Charles Saatchi".
Nigella Lawson has denied having a drugs problem.Nigella Lawson has denied having a drugs problem.
The trial continues.The trial continues.