Humza Yousaf 'loaned Natalie McGarry money to prevent eviction', trial hears

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf has told a jury he loaned Natalie McGarry money to stop her being evicted from her home.The MSP stated that a "distressed" McGarry came to his office in Glasgow city centre in February 2014.He claimed that was told by McGarry that she did "not have the money" and was threatened with losing her property that day.Yousaf said he then gave McGarry £600 which was later paid back.

The ex- SNP MP for Glasgow East allegedly embezzled £21,000 while she was treasurer for Women for Independence (WFI) between 26 April 2013 and 30 November 2015.

A second charge states McGarry took £4,661 between 9 April 2014 and 10 August 2015 while treasurer, secretary and convenor of the Glasgow Regional Association.Yousaf told jurors in evidence at Glasgow Sheriff Court that McGarry arrived at his West Nile Street constituency office.Yousaf: "I think she was speaking to my office manager at the time Shona McAlpine."She came to my office in a state of distress."I asked her what was wrong and she told me she was threatened with being evicted that day if she didn’t come up with around the sum of £600 and she didn’t have the money at that point."There was a reason I can’t remember in much detail."There was a reason her and her partner didn’t have access to the funds."I offered to give her a loan of funds about the £600 mark from the bank across the road."I made the transaction and the money was returned roughly in the timescale."Prosecutor Alistair Mitchell asked: "Was there a discussion on the source of the funds being used to pay the money back?"Yousaf said: "No."Mitchell showed a bank statement which stated that money was paid back to Yousaf in April 2014.Allan Macleod, defending, put it to Yousaf that McGarry had not