US campaign group says Scots prosecutors failed to investigate Trump's golf course financing

Get the latest Daily Record breaking news on WhatsApp

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info

Join us on WhatsApp

Scotland's most senior prosecutor has failed to respond to a letter from American lawyers demanding an investigation into the financing of Donald Trump’s Scottish golf courses.

It comes after a New York civil court ruled in February that the President Elect and his key executives deceived bankers and insurers by producing financial statements that hugely overstated his fortune.

Trump was ordered to pay £279.9million in penalties - a ruling which he is appealing.

But the case has prompted US based global political campaign group Avaaz to demand Scottish authorities apply for an Unexplained Wealth Order in relation to Trump’s golf courses in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire.

The organisation wrote to Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain in October, but has told the Sunday Mail no response has been received.

Nick Flynn, Legal Director at Avaaz, said: “Trump may escape justice in the US by pardoning himself, but he can’t pull the same trick in Scotland.

“The $60 million in cash used to fund his Turnberry golf course remains shrouded in suspicion, It’s a cloud that only an investigation can clear.

“US courts recently found Trump guilty of fraud, relying on evidence from Scotland, making the Scottish authorities’ ongoing refusal to pursue an unexplained wealth order both indefensible and unacceptable.”

There have been claims Russian money could have helped fund the purchase.

Losses at Donald Trump’s Aberdeenshire golf course almost doubled in the last year.

His course on the Menie Estate in Balmedie near Aberdeen lost £1.4million in the period up to December 31 last year - despite a £4.8million loan from his company, DJT Holdings.

Trump’s sons Eric and Donald Jr are directors of the course which lost £738,000 the previous year.

He is registered as a “person with significant control”.

Trump’s Turnberry resort however generated a pre-tax profit of £3.8 million last year.

Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “Donald Trump is a racist, misogynistic demagogue, with a long history of controversy and questionable deals. Unfortunately, he also is one of the most powerful and influential people in the world.

“Trump is what the law call a ‘politically exposed person’, and, particularly with his Scottish interests being cited as part of a recent criminal conviction for falsifying business records in New York, questions need to be asked.

“Any individual or organisation who seeks to undermine our justice and tax systems must be held accountable for their actions, anything else would be completely unacceptable and would badly undermine our justice system.

“With Donald Trump on the verge of re-entering the White House, it is more pressing than ever that the Scottish Government acts, and that they use an Unexplained Wealth Order to investigate his investments here in Scotland.

“We must take a zero-tolerance approach towards financial crimes, no matter the perpetrators’ status.”

A spokesperson for Crown Office department, the Civil Recovery Unit, said: “Civil recovery investigations, which include applications to the Court for an Unexplained Wealth Order, are conducted on behalf of the Scottish Ministers by the Civil Recovery Unit (CRU) which reports to the Lord Advocate.

“The CRU does not confirm or deny whether a civil recovery investigation has commenced. This is a statement of policy and, as such, nothing should be inferred, one way or the other.”

Representatives for Trump were contacted for comment.

Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.