Nikki Sinclaire
Nicole (Nikki) Sinclaire, a male who identifies as a trans woman, was charged with money laundering and misconduct in public office. Both offences related to European Parliament travel expenses, in a period between October 2009 and July 2010. Sinclaire was acquitted of both charges in July 2016.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said the force “acknowledged” the verdict, but defended the investigation.
“Our criminal justice system quite rightly demands a very high standard of proof,” he said.
Sinclaire, 47, was alleged to have submitted ten fraudulent European parliament expenses claims totalling £3,250 by claiming “significantly higher sums” for travel and for trips “not undertaken at all” and laundering the cash.
However the court heard ex-office aide John Ison gave details of the claims to UKIP leader Nigel Farage and he incriminated himself in court by admitting to sending a message to another party about Sinclaire, which read: “Ok, Plan B – fraud.”
Sinclaire criticised the West Midlands Police investigation as a vanity case as it cost £1.5 million to pursue the case regarding the £3,250 sum that Sinclaire was alleged to have fraudulently claimed.
Sinclaire was formerly a UKIP MEP and the UK’s first openly transgender politician.
Photo via Wikipedia
Media reports
Crown Prosecution Service news release http://blog.cps.gov.uk/2014/07/ex-mep-nicole-sinclaire-charged-with-money-laundering-and-misconduct-in-public-office.html
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikki_Sinclaire archive
BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-36762323
BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-36640963