Ex-Tory treasurer charged with laundering more than £200,000

A former Tory branch treasurer denies money laundering more than £200,000 through two local Conservative Party associations.

Malcolm Macaskill, 61, allegedly sent cash deposits said to be 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 allegations 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.

Another 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.

The trio pleaded not guilty to the charges at a hearing in Glasgow Sheriff Court last year.

A further hearing was held on Thursday.

The accused, who did not appear at court, again denied the charges through their lawyers Paul Kavanagh and Allan MacLeod.

It was stated that a potential trial would last between six to eight weeks.

A further hearing was set for April this year by Sheriff Ian Fleming.

Malcolm and Louise Macaskill, from Cambuslang in Lanarkshire, and Moya Macaskill, from Rutherglen in South Lanarkshire, had their bail continued meantime.