NATALIE McGarry was back in court today.
The former SNP MP is accused of embezzling £21,000 for her own use in her role as treasurer of the Women for Independence group between April 26 2013 and November 30 2015.
She is also accused of failing to transfer charitable donations raised by the group to Perth and Kinross Foodbank and to Positive Prisons, Positive Futures.
It is alleged she transferred funds raised through events on behalf of Women for Independence into her own personal bank account and used cheques drawn on the organisation's bank account to deposit money in her own accounts.
McGarry is also accused of embezzling £4,661.02 for her own use from the Glasgow Regional Association of the SNP between April 9 2014 and August 10 2015.
It is alleged that in the course of her roles as treasurer, secretary and convener of the association, she used cheques drawn on bank accounts held in its name to pay expenses it had not incurred and retained reimbursements to which she was not entitled.
The indictment also alleges she used cheques drawn on bank accounts held in the association's name to deposit money in her own personal bank accounts, and transferred funds donated to the association through its website into her own accounts.
Lawyer Allan Macleod, representing McGarry, said: "A date has been pencilled in for May but we are not sure if it's pencil or ink.
"Since the last hearing both parties have been working towards ensuring that we are going to be ready to proceed to trial at that time.
"As things presently stand the defence are not in a position to proceed to trial but there have been significant developments in all aspects of preparation since the case last called."
Sheriff Joseph Platt continued the case to a further hearing on February 10.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article