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Denis MacShane due to be sentenced over false expense claims Denis MacShane due to be sentenced over false expense claims
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Disgraced former Labour minister Denis MacShane is due to be sentenced for making bogus expense claims amounting to nearly £13,000. The disgraced former Labour minister Denis MacShane is due to be sentenced for making bogus expense claims amounting to nearly £13,000.
The ex-MP pleaded guilty last month to false accounting by filing 19 fake receipts for "research and translation" services. The ex-MP pleaded guilty last month to false accounting by filing 19 fake receipts for "research and translation" services. He used the money to fund a series of trips to Europe, including one to judge a literary competition in Paris.
He used the money to fund a series of trips to Europe, including one to judge a literary competition in Paris.
Following his admission at the Old Bailey, Mr Justice Sweeney told him that "all sentencing options" remained open to the court.Following his admission at the Old Bailey, Mr Justice Sweeney told him that "all sentencing options" remained open to the court.
The maximum jail term available is seven years, although MacShane is likely to get less. He was granted unconditional bail until Friday's sentencing.The maximum jail term available is seven years, although MacShane is likely to get less. He was granted unconditional bail until Friday's sentencing.
His guilty plea followed more than four years of scrutiny into his use of Commons allowances.His guilty plea followed more than four years of scrutiny into his use of Commons allowances.
Parliamentary authorities began looking at his claims in 2009 when the wider MPs' expenses scandal engulfed Westminster, and referred him to Scotland Yard within months.Parliamentary authorities began looking at his claims in 2009 when the wider MPs' expenses scandal engulfed Westminster, and referred him to Scotland Yard within months.
But parliamentary privilege meant detectives were not given access to damning correspondence with the standards commissioner, in which MacShane detailed how signatures on receipts from the European Policy Institute (EPI) had been faked.But parliamentary privilege meant detectives were not given access to damning correspondence with the standards commissioner, in which MacShane detailed how signatures on receipts from the European Policy Institute (EPI) had been faked.
The body was controlled by MacShane and the general manager's signature was not genuine. One missive, dated October 2009, told how he drew funds from the EPI so he could serve on a book judging panel in Paris. The body was controlled by MacShane and the general manager's signature was not genuine. One missive, dated October 2009, told how he drew funds from the EPI so he could serve on a book-judging panel in Paris.
It was not until after police dropped the case last year that the cross-party standards committee published the evidence in a report that recommended an unprecedented 12-month suspension from the House. It was not until after police dropped the case last year that the cross-party standards committee published the evidence in a report that recommended an unprecedented 12-month suspension from the house.
MacShane, 65, who served as Europe minister under Tony Blair, resigned as MP for Rotherham last November before the punishment could be imposed.MacShane, 65, who served as Europe minister under Tony Blair, resigned as MP for Rotherham last November before the punishment could be imposed.
Police reopened their inquiry in light of the fresh information and he was charged in May, even though the letters were still not thought to be admissible in court.Police reopened their inquiry in light of the fresh information and he was charged in May, even though the letters were still not thought to be admissible in court.
The offence of false accounting covered 19 "knowingly misleading" receipts that MacShane filed between January 2005 and January 2008.The offence of false accounting covered 19 "knowingly misleading" receipts that MacShane filed between January 2005 and January 2008.
He is understood to accept that he made a "grotesque mistake", but argues there was no personal gain from the claims.He is understood to accept that he made a "grotesque mistake", but argues there was no personal gain from the claims.
He has said he told police "everything and more" that he told the standards commissioner before the criminal case was initially dropped.He has said he told police "everything and more" that he told the standards commissioner before the criminal case was initially dropped.
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