Ex-Tory branch treasurer charged with money laundering

A former Conservative party branch treasurer has appeared in court charged with laundering more than £200,000 through two local party associations.

Malcolm Macaskill, 61, allegedly sent cash deposits from criminal property to the Rutherglen and Cambuslang Conservative Association and The Glasgow Conservative Forum before sending out numerous cheques to a snack shop’s bank account.

Prosecutors claim the payments were made while he was treasurer and deputy chairman of the associations between September 2005 and December 2013.

One charge states 11 cheques were made out to ‘Kwik Snax’ from The Rutherglen and Cambuslang Conservative Association general account with a value of £8617.

The charge goes on to say a £9107 cash payment was also authorised and was done to “disguise criminal property.”

Another charge claims 52 cheques totalling £193,790 were made out to Kwik Snax and a further two cheques worth £6300 were sent to a ‘Mr Macaskill’.

Malcolm and co-accused Moya Macaskill, 60, face further accusations such as submitting various false VAT return forms which authorised repayments of £864,971.72 which they were not entitled through a company named Bigga Bites Ltd between December 2005 and March 2014.

A separate charge claims the cash was used in payment for business expenditure as well as transferring funds into personal bank accounts.

Co-accused Louise Macaskill, 60, is also said to have “acquired cash from the alleged fraudulent scheme” between January 2005 and March 2014.

She is said to have made payments to her own bank account in the name of Louise Campbell.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges at Glasgow Sheriff Court and a further hearing was set for January next year.

Malcolm and Louise, from Cambuslang, and Moya, from Rutherglen, had their bail continued meantime.