Ex-Lewisham Council leader 'not fit for trial' over expenses (From News Shopper)
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Ex-Lewisham Council leader 'not fit for trial' over expenses
1:22pm Friday 27th April 2012 in Lewisham By Crime Reporter
Former leader of Lewisham Council Margaret Moran
A FORMER leader of Lewisham Council has been judged not fit to plea over charges of fiddling her expenses when she was an MP.
Margaret Moran led the council from 1993 to 1995 after joining in 1984, later becoming MP for Luton South - a role she held when the alleged offences happened.
But Lewes Crown Court was told today that Ms Moran, who did not attend the hearing, was suffering from depression and there was a risk of suicide.
Ms Moran wept when she appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court last year charged with 15 charges of false accounting and six of using a false instrument relating to expense claims of around £80,000.
It is alleged that the 56-year-old made claims on properties in London, Luton and Southampton by "flipping" her second home.
The case has been adjourned to Southwark Crown Court on November 15.
