A former Tory council leader accused of a £188,000 romance fraud sits on a committee that upholds financial probity. Andrew Polson, who denies swindling money from a woman in a property scheme, remains on East Dunbartonshire council’s audit and risk management committee.
Green MSP Ross Greer urged Polson to step back: “Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but it is obviously wrong for Councillor Polson to sit on a committee overseeing council finances when he has been charged with financial offences. For the sake of public confidence in the council, he clearly needs to step down. Otherwise, this sends an incredibly poor message to the people of East Dunbartonshire.”
Polson was elected as a Conservative but was suspended by the party in 2022.
Court papers state Polson, whose trial is scheduled for September, made false representations to form a business partnership with a woman. It was claimed ‘AA Lettings’ would carry out administration, servicing, maintenance, renovation and leasing of properties.
Polson allegedly opened a bank account for the firm and claimed to the woman he would arrange the purchase of a property in Bellshill under joint ownership. He is stated to have induced the woman to pay £40,500 as her contribution, but the joint title was not secured.
Polson is claimed to have told the woman she would receive an equal share of the £500 rent per month but it is stated this did not happen. A further £200 was allegedly taken from the woman per month for expenditure on the property for which no benefit was provided.
Polson is stated to have also induced her to fork out £146,000 for a property in Bearsden in a similar manner. He is claimed to have not paid any money due from the property to the woman from rent.
The alleged offence is aggravated by involving abuse of his partner or ex-partner.
Polson pleaded not guilty and his defence lawyer, Alistair McGarvey, told a hearing at Glasgow Sheriff Court last week he is not prepared for trial. The lawyer said: “There is a significant disclosure issue and I am in discussions with the Crown about receiving that.”
According to East Dunbartonshire council, Polson did not attend the last A&R committee meeting but he is still a member. The committee deals with the stewardship of council resources including the “development of an anti-fraud culture”. A meeting will be held later this week on the political make up of council committees.
Polson said: “As is standard procedure following Thursday’s by-election, all committee memberships including mine, are set to be reviewed at the full council meeting on Friday. Until then, I remain a member of the A&R Committee and continue to fulfil my duties. As this is an ongoing legal matter, I have no further comment.”
Sheriff Joan Kerr set a 15-day trial for September this year as well as two further hearings in April and June.
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