Former Councillor denies embezzling cash from People's Development Trust in Dalmarnock
Yvonne Kucuk told a court she got her co-accused to sign blank cheques
A former Councillor who denies embezzling £8,000 told a court that she got her co- accused to co-sign blank cheques. Yvonne Kucuk, 52, said she withdrew £3,500 out of the People’s Development Trust’s account for two gala days.
Kucuk, from Glasgow's Calton, was in charge of the organisation which provided services, including numeracy and literacy classes, in the city's Dalmarnock.
She is on trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court along with William Faulds, 55, who was the project manager.
They deny embezzling £8,120 from the trust between January 2015 and January 2016.
Ms Kucuk admitted due to time constraints, she would fill in the signed cheques at the bank.
She said: “I would ask William at the office and complete the rest at the bank.”
In evidence, Kucuk, the former Labour councillor for Calton, admitted that she withdrew £3,500 a few days after the community events to cover costs.
Kucuk said “I took £3,500 as I thought that is what they would be using.”
Her lawyer Brian Cooney said “You didn’t spend anywhere near that, ” and she replied “Yes, I know.”
She claimed the rest of the cash was put in a bag and returned to the Development Trust several months after the gala day.
Kucuk claimed that being accused of embezzling money has affected her mental health.
She said: “ I thought this was a nightmare and this was like the Walking Dead, my life has been ruined and I’m numb.
“At the time I forgot we even had two gala days until I seen it in the press and Kenny Dalglish was there.”
Kucuk also explained tutors Jonathan Anderson and a Turkish man nicknamed ‘Big Johnny’ were paid to help people with form filing and English.
Mr Anderson’s fees were accounted for through invoices, but ‘Big Johnny’ said Kucuk, was paid in cash.
She said: “We paid a number of people in cash, it was to keep the money locally in the community, it’s normal practice.”
Ms Kucuk admitted that due to time constraints and pressures of the job some of the cheques made out to a ‘Jonathan’ for literacy services was paid to Big Johnny’.
The court heard that Kucuk was put on gardening leave after an audit of the Trust's accounts was carried out.
A number of cheque stubs made out to "cash" were discovered, but there was no corresponding receipts or paperwork.
During the investigation Ms Kucuk claimed the cash was used to pay a tutor for adult classes, and a gala day.
Maureen Burke, who worked for the organisation for about two years, said the business was "chaotic" during the months it took to complete a move of premises from Baltic Street to Springfield Road.
The trial continues next month.