A former Member of the European Parliament whose seat included Brighton and Hove has been charged with fraud, deception, false accounting and misconduct in public office.
Ashley Mote, 78, MEP for South East England from 2004 to 2009, was charged last week by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The charges relate to his time as an MEP. He was elected as a member of the UK Independence Party but sat as an independent after being thrown out of UKIP.
Zoe Martin, of the CPS Special Crime Division said: “The CPS has issued charges against Ashley Mote of obtaining a money transfer by deception, fraud by false representation, false accounting, receiving the proceeds of crime and misconduct in public office.
“We have decided there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest.
“Ashley Mote will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on (Monday) 3 November.
“A decision has also been made that no further action will been taken in relation to a second individual who was investigated for offences of obtaining money transfer by deception, false accounting and fraud by false representation, as there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.
“In addition no further action will be taken against two other individuals who were investigated for offences of money laundering.
“These decisions were taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
“Any decision by the CPS does not imply any finding concerning guilt or criminal conduct.
“The CPS makes decisions only according to the test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and it is applied in all decisions on whether or not to prosecute.”
The CPS said that it had made an assessment about whether it was appropriate to present charges against Mote, of Binsted in Hampshire, for the criminal court to consider.
It was for the court to make findings of fact about guilt or criminal conduct.
The CPS assessment was based on the evidence arising from the police investigation and not on the evidence that may be gathered by the defence and used to test the prosecution evidence.
Prosecutors keep cases under review so that they can take account of any change in circumstances as the case develops including what becomes known of the defence case.
If appropriate, the CPS may change the charges or stop a case.
All parties can suffer from carpet baggers and fraudsters, but UKIP seems to have a particular talent for this. For example, just look at the way they have gorged themselves on their European expenses.
H Jarrs I wonder why Mr and Mrs Kitcat both claim for the Care Component surely only one should be claiming?
what a picture of depravity!