A police probe has been launched after machinery was allegedly stolen from Aberdeen City Council – with a boss in the spotlight.
The Press and Journal can reveal that the investigation involves a senior staff member at the local authority.
The machinery is believed to have been stolen from a council site earlier this month by the manager.
A source said the man had been reported by a fellow worker to the police after he tried to sell the heavy equipment at an auction.
A council spokeswoman said last night that the matter was now in the hands of the police and added that commenting further would be “inappropriate”.
A police spokeswoman said that inquiries were ongoing into the alleged theft of machinery which was reported between August 4 and 11.
She added: “Our enquiries are at an early stage.”
It is understood there have been no arrests or charges brought.
The Press and Journal knows the name of the manager under investigation but will not reveal it as inquiries are at an early stage.
An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said: “This is a police matter, and it would be inappropriate to comment.”
A police inquiry will now take place to investigate the possible criminal action and whether arrests or charges will be brought.
In the last two years council bosses in the city have launched new measures against fraud with employees now able to use a whistleblowing service on the local authority’s website.
Several incidents were investigated at the council over the past few years.
In 2016, a council worker admitted fraudulently selling almost 200 mobile phones earmarked for local authority employees.
Later that year a report revealed a senior local authority official resigned after a city council-led fraud probe.
It emerged that former RAF officer Kiemon Stewart, a building services official, was the man who quit after allegations surfaced of him replacing windows at a woman’s flat before those of other waiting tenants.
However,when contacted by the Press and Journal yesterday at his new home in Northern Ireland Mr Stewart said he had not committed any fraud at the authority and had been actively tackling corruption while working there.