Councillor admits to embezzling £13,500 from sports society

Scott Cassie admitted taking 13,500 while working as a councillor over a period of ten years when he appeared in court yesterday.

The former councillor was once such a respected figure in the community that a street was named after him near his home. But yesterday his career lay in tatters after he admitted swindling cash from a local sports group in Aberdeen.

He admitted a charge of embezzling the money from Kaimhill Outdoor Sports Society while at his home or elsewhere between 24 August, 1998 and 29 May, 2009, when he appeared at the city's sheriff court.

Sentence was deferred for reports until next month.

Cassie, 60, from Garthdee, stepped down from his role as Lib Dem group leader after allegations of financial irregularities against him and his wife, Moira, were made public last year.

He continued to carry out his work as a councillor in the city representing the Garthdee, Airyhall and Broomhill areas.

However, he quit his post this week. He revealed that he was no longer planning to continue working for Aberdeen City Council in a statement on Wednesday - hours before his court appearance.

Announcing the resignation he said: "Due to personal reasons, I have resigned as councillor for Airyhall, Broomhill and Garthdee ward with immediate effect. I will not be making any further statement on this matter."

Allegations of financial irregularities first surfaced against the councillor and his wife during an investigation into missing cash at Garthdee Community Council last year.

Almost 8,000 of cash was later repaid by his wife who was chairwoman of the group at the time.

It is understood Mrs Cassie, 58, later wrote a resignation letter to the community council demanding a retraction of the allegations against them.

The pair appeared in private at Aberdeen Sheriff Court in August last year charged with embezzling funds between August 1998 and June 2009. Mr Cassie studied at the Robert Gordon Institute of Technology before beginning his council career.

He is an elder at Garthdee Parish Church, sits on the board of governors for private school Robert Gordon's College and is a fellow of the Institute of Sales Engineers.

Yesterday the Crown Office revealed that the case against Mr Cassie's wife Moira had now been dropped.

A Crown Office spokesman said: "The procurator-fiscal at Aberdeen received a report concerning Moira Cassie, 58, in connection with alleged incidents occurring between January 2002 and January 2005.Solemn proceedings were subsequently raised against her, charging her with embezzlement.

"It is the duty of the Crown to keep cases under review, and after full and careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case by Crown Counsel it was decided that there should be no further proceedings. The case against her is now closed."

Grampian Police Detective Inspector Malcolm Jones, who led the inquiry, said: "We welcome today's outcome, which finally brings this case to a conclusion after almost two years."