Fraudster in Sturgeon row says sorry for trouble caused

THE fraudster at the centre of a row that sparked calls for Nicola Sturgeon to resign has said sorry to her, insisting he did not wish her reputation to be "tarnished" by involvement in his case.

Abdul Rauf said his request for a character reference was a "perfectly innocent" bid for help from his local MSP as he faces a possible jail sentence for claiming 80,000 in benefits to which he was not entitled.

The letter, which was produced in Glasgow Sheriff Court on Wednesday and called for Mr Rauf to be spared jail, has threatened the political career of Ms Sturgeon, leaving her open to accusations of poor judgment.

In the wake of the revelation, Labour called for her resignation, and she will make a statement to MSPs outlining her involvement in the case when the Scottish Parliament reconvenes next week.

But yesterday Mr Rauf, who was jailed in 1996 for stealing nearly 60,000 from a post office in which he worked, apologised for involving Ms Sturgeon.

He said: "I am sorry if this has caused her any embarrassment. I would not like anyone's job or reputation to be tarnished by my request. I could not have imagined when I made the request for the letter in July 2008 that it would cause such a media storm. I am very sorry this has happened."

The apology comes as the deputy first minister was accused of "hypocrisy" after it emerged she filmed a pledge to be a "counterfraud champion" as part of the first NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Conference in 2008.

A video clip on the NHS National Services Scotland website shows Ms Sturgeon calling for zero tolerance on fraud, an approach that had to "come from the very top".

"My clear message today is that our NHS isn't going to be an easy target for fraudsters," she said. "Anyone contemplating fraud against the NHS should be aware that they will be caught, and if they are caught, they will have to face the consequences of their fraudulent actions.

"Fraud perpetrated against the NHS is, in my view, a fraud against each and every one of us and that is why it is so important to combat it. So it does make sense for all of us, in our own ways and in our own roles, to act as counterfraud champions."

Labour said the comments on the video clip made Ms Sturgeon's position even more untenable.

The party's Scottish leader, Iain Gray, said: "Apart from hypocrisy and double standards, this further undermines Nicola Sturgeon's credibility as a minister. It also raises further questions about her judgment. How she could possibly have supported Abdul Rauf and what made her do so when she had called publicly for zero tolerance towards convicted fraudsters."

But a spokesman for the deputy first minister said Mr Gray's comments were "another desperate attack by Labour".

"It is absolutely right that the Cabinet secretary for health should promote a campaign aimed at protecting NHS finances," he said. "It is entirely appropriate and proper for Nicola Sturgeon to represent a constituent when asked to do so, as every MSP should have a duty of care to try and help their constituents."