Russell Findlay has reacted angrily to the news that the total bill for the Rangers malicious prosecution scandal could reach £60.5 million.
Audit Scotland revealed the costs in its annual section 22 report into the Scottish Government’s accounts on Thursday (16 November), with £51.7 million paid out in compensation and legal costs and an additional £8.8 million set aside for unresolved cases.
Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Russell Findlay told insider.co.uk on Friday (17 November) that the reputation cost to the country’s prosecution service as a result of the scandal is “incalculable,” and that it’s “sickening” that the money is being diverted away from frontline services and the justice system.
“While the financial cost of this scandal looks set to smash through the £60million barrier, the reputational cost to Scotland’s prosecution service is incalculable,” Findlay said in a statement. “It’s sickening that every penny of this enormous sum is being diverted away from frontline services like our justice system.”
“A fearless and efficient inquiry, chaired by someone from outwith Scotland, must robustly get to the bottom of this malice and incompetence – and hold those responsible to account.”
Complex
This is a highly complex case that has been ongoing for several years after several individuals involved in the administration and acquisition of Rangers were found to have been wrongfully prosecuted.
Following the arrests of administrators David Whitehouse and Paul Clark in 2014, the Crown Office later dropped the charges and admitted the prosecutions were “malicious.”
Former Gers CEO Charles Green was awarded more than £6 million in compensation, and ex-director Imran Ahmad was told he should not have been prosecuted.
It’s incredible how much money has been spent on the scandal and how the issues surrounding it have raged on for the better part of a decade.
While those involved will most likely want to put the matter behind them, it appears unlikely for the time being given that the Scottish Government and the Lord Advocate have stated that an inquiry can take place once the civil cases are completed.
