The previous chief of Reform UK in Wales has appeared in courtroom after he was accused of constructing beneficial statements about Russia within the European Parliament in alternate for bribes.
Nathan Gill, 51, has been charged with one depend of conspiracy to commit bribery below the Felony Regulation Act 1977, and with eight counts of bribery below the Bribery Act, 2010, the Metropolitan Police mentioned.
Gill – who was an MEP for nearly six years and a member of the Welsh parliament, the Senedd, between 2016 and 2017 – is alleged to have been requested by former Ukrainian politician Oleg Voloshyn to make particular statements about Russia in return for cash on a minimum of eight events.
The conspiracy to commit bribery cost pertains to allegations that Gill conspired with Voloshyn and “others” between 1 January 2018 and 1 February 2020.
It claims he accepted “quantities of money in cash” which was “improper performance by him of his function or activity as the holder” of a place as an MEP.
The opposite bribery offences are alleged to have taken place between 6 December 2018 and 18 July 2019.
Gill, from Llangefni on Anglesey, was beforehand a member of the UK Independence Social gathering (UKIP), main the Welsh wing of the social gathering between 2014 and 2016.
He left UKIP in 2019, and the identical 12 months he joined Nigel Farage’s Brexit Social gathering – later Reform UK – and was elected as a Brexit Social gathering MEP.
Gill was confirmed as chief of Reform UK Wales in 2021 forward of Senedd elections, however reviews counsel he left the social gathering months later when he didn’t win a seat.
A spokesperson for Reform UK Wales confirmed Gill was now not a member, and mentioned the social gathering wouldn’t be commenting.
Gill was stopped at Manchester Airport on 13 September 2021 below the Counter Terrorism and Border Safety Act 2019, the courtroom additionally heard.
The Crown Prosecution Service mentioned expenses have been authorised towards Voloshyn however he isn’t within the jurisdiction.
Gill was granted bail on the situation that he give up his passport, doesn’t acquire worldwide journey paperwork and doesn’t contact Voloshyn.
He is because of seem on the Previous Bailey on 14 March.
