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Fringe society defrauded of £200,000 Fringe society defrauded of £200,000
(about 1 hour later)
More than £200,000 was fraudulently taken from from the organisation which runs Edinburgh's Fringe festival by a former employee. More than £200,000 was fraudulently taken from the organisation which runs Edinburgh's Fringe festival by a former employee.
The Fringe Society said the money was taken over eight years by a former employee, who has not been named.The Fringe Society said the money was taken over eight years by a former employee, who has not been named.
The money has since been recovered in a police investigation. The details of the fraud have not been released.The money has since been recovered in a police investigation. The details of the fraud have not been released.
The society gives support to performers who go to the world's largest arts festival at their own cost.The society gives support to performers who go to the world's largest arts festival at their own cost.
It has a budget of £3.5m which comes from the Scottish government, Creative Scotland and Edinburgh city council.It has a budget of £3.5m which comes from the Scottish government, Creative Scotland and Edinburgh city council.
This year's festival begins on 7 August.This year's festival begins on 7 August.
Annual turnoverAnnual turnover
Kath Mainland, chief executive of The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: "We have been a victim of a sophisticated fraud campaign conducted by one individual in a position of responsibility over an extended period of time. Kath Mainland, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: "We have been a victim of a sophisticated fraud campaign conducted by one individual in a position of responsibility over an extended period of time.
"The amount of money involved in any given year was, on average, less than 1% of the Fringe Society's annual turnover and not operationally impactful."The amount of money involved in any given year was, on average, less than 1% of the Fringe Society's annual turnover and not operationally impactful.
"We do take matters such as this very seriously. Despite already recovering the funds I wanted to be open about the situation and offer the opportunity to members to discuss this at our Annual General Meeting in August.""We do take matters such as this very seriously. Despite already recovering the funds I wanted to be open about the situation and offer the opportunity to members to discuss this at our Annual General Meeting in August."
She added that under police advice she was not able to name the individual involved or disclose specific information due to the ongoing investigation.She added that under police advice she was not able to name the individual involved or disclose specific information due to the ongoing investigation.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "Police Scotland is carrying out an investigation into a possible fraud following a complaint from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "Police Scotland is carrying out an investigation into a possible fraud following a complaint from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.
"The compliant was made to police on Tuesday, 31 March. Inquiries are ongoing and the investigation is at an early stage." "The complaint was made to police on Tuesday, 31 March. Inquiries are ongoing and the investigation is at an early stage."