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Former deputy mayor must repay £2,000 of expenses
Emma Rowley11.08.09
Former deputy mayor Ian Clement must pay back more than £2,000 to a local council after claiming expenses for trips that had already been paid for and a night at a London hotel.
Mr Clement was forced to resign as aide to Boris Johnson in June over claims for restaurant meals where his "guests" never appeared and allegations he used taxpayers' cash to wine and dine his lover.
Last night, after a separate investigation, Bexley council found its former leader used his official credit card for a night at a Park Plaza hotel in London for no "justified business reason".
On another occasion, the council paid for his accommodation for a course in the United States, but he still claimed £1,270.50 in overnight subsistence allowances.
Mr Clement, 44, has already paid back £1,220 spent on the council card which was personal expenditure. Last night Bexley's audit committee ordered him to pay back £2,087.85.
But the council found "insufficient evidence of fraud to pursue a criminal prosecution".
Reader views (4)
"Excellent work by Boris for investigating this scandal and dealing with it quickly."
9 months is quickly? What's 'slowly' in your odd dreamworld?
"If I robbed a Bank, got caught and immediately paid the money back would i escape prosecution?"
That depends. Where did you go to school?
- Tom, London, UK
Why is it the Tories believe that paying money back saves them from being prosecuted? Cameron is just the same and sees no crime from his own people. If I robbed a Bank, got caught and immediately paid the money back would i escape prosecution?
- W Pickle, Acton England
Is Boris also going to repay the £100,000 he claimed from us taxpayers to pay the mortgage on his Islington mansion?
Is he heck.
- James Harnish, London W4
Excellent work by Boris for investigating this scandal and dealing with it quickly. Well done.
- Kimberley, London
