Former MEP convicted of bribes and activities serving Russia

The Central Criminal Court in London on Friday sentenced former British MEP Nathan Gill to 10.5 years in prison after he admitted accepting at least 40,000 euros. pounds in bribes for spreading pro-Russian content at the European Parliament.

During the sentencing, Judge Bobbie Cheema-Grubb said the politician accepted the money “in exchange for improper performance of public duties.”

Gill, the former leader of the Reform UK party in Wales, pleaded guilty in September to eight counts of bribery, which occurred between December 6, 2018 and July 18, 2019. From 2014 to 2020, he was a member of the European Parliament for the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) and then the Brexit Party.

According to Dominic Murphy, head of the anti-terrorism department of the London Police, Gill's action was motivated by financial issues.

– Greed was his main motivation, but I think there was also something in his behavior that made him pro-Russian, but only he can say that. Honestly, he never told us that, said Murphy, quoted by Sky News.

British police said other European Parliament politicians, including former British MPs, were still under investigation. According to investigators, some people associated with Gill's case had direct contact with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

From London Marta Zabłocka (PAP)

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