Fitaloon at MicroShaft

SNP Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon urged the public to become “counter-fraud champions” four months after she took up the case of a convicted benefits conman, it emerged on Monday. The video of her speech is here.

So why was she saying a fraudster should not get a custodial sentence, though perhaps she thinks stealing from the NHS, is more important that stealing from us.

In her speech she has this to say:

“Anyone contemplating fraud against the NHS should be aware that they will be caught, and if they are caught, they will have to face the consequences of their fraudulent actions.

“Fraudsters in any walk of life are opportunistic, tend to be fairly entrepreneurial, and will take the opportunity to exploit any weakness in the organisation they target.

“Let me be clear today about what is a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and to fraudsters. Fraud perpetrated against the NHS is, in my view, a fraud perpetrated against each and every one of us and that is why it is so important to combat it.

“So it does make sense for all of us, in our own ways and in our own roles, to act as counter-fraud champions.”

So as a “champion” she urges the courts not to send Abdul Rauf to prison. This must be a new definition of  “Zero Tolerance”.

It remains, that what was likely a  minor error on the part of a one of Sturgeon’s staff has been turned into a major stooshie. She has only herself to blame for this. A little humility and the acceptance of, perhaps, an error could  have turned this into a minor issue. Instead the SNP have turned this into a major story and issue for them in the run up to a General Election.

Nicola Sturgeon lauded anti-fraud measures after taking up Rauf case | Scotland | STV News.

Sure to be much wailing and gnashing of Teeth from the SNP at this story. The BBC has this

Scotland’s deputy first minister has written a letter of support for a man who could be jailed over benefit fraud.

Nicola Sturgeon asked the court to consider “alternatives to a custodial sentence” in the case of Abdul Rauf.

The 60-year-old, who is a constituent of Ms Sturgeon, defrauded £80,000 from the Department of Work and Pensions.

Labour said she had made an “appalling error of judgement” and should resign. The SNP said her representations on behalf of a constituent were routine.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard how Rauf admitted failing to declare a property in Newington, Edinburgh, worth £200,000 on his application for income support.

He subsequently received £650 a month in rent while he claimed the benefits between 2001 and 2006.

At the same time he was living in a £400,000 house in Glasgow’s Maxwell Park area.

When the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) later discovered that he owned the Edinburgh property Rauf said he did not declare it as it had “slipped my mind”.

Oops, major Sturgeon fail.

BBC News – Minister intervenes in fraud case.