Latest news with #CounterTerrorismandBorderSecurityAct2019
The Independent
14-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Ex-Reform UK leader in Wales to deny alleged Russian bribery charges
The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has indicated he will deny taking bribes to make favourable statements about Russia in the European Parliament. Nathan Gill, 51, is charged with eight counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Gill allegedly made statements in the European Parliament and in opinion pieces to news outlets, such as 112 Ukraine, which were 'supportive of a particular narrative' which would 'benefit Russia regarding events in Ukraine'. The defendant is alleged to have been tasked by Oleg Voloshyn on at least eight occasions to make specific statements in return for money. On Friday, Gill, of Anglesey, north Wales, appeared for a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey before Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb. The defendant's lawyer Clare Ashcroft indicated he would deny the charges against him but asked that he not be asked to formally enter pleas yet. Prosecutor Mark Heywood KC told the court the charges related to the defendant's time as a member of the European Parliament. He said that charges had been authorised against the defendant's alleged co-conspirator Voloshyn, who is believed to be out of the jurisdiction. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb set a plea hearing for July 18 and a provisional trial before a High Court judge from June 29 2026 at the Old Bailey. The defendant stood in the dock wearing a blue striped tie and grey suit, and spoke only to confirm his identity during the hearing. Addressing the defendant at the end of the hearing, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said: 'I'm going to release you on bail on the same conditions as before.' Gill is bailed on condition that he surrender his passport, is not to obtain international travel documents and not to contact Voloshyn. The conspiracy to commit bribery charge alleges Gill conspired with Voloshyn and 'others' between January 1 2018 and February 1 2020, and that he accepted 'quantities of money in cash' which was 'improper performance by him of his function or activity as the holder' of a position in the European Parliament. The other bribery offences are alleged to have taken place between December 6 2018 and July 18 2019. Gill was stopped at Manchester Airport on September 13 2021 under the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, the court also heard. He was first elected as a Ukip member of the European Parliament in 2014 and his role ended when the UK left the EU in 2020 – at which point he was an MEP for the Brexit Party. The defendant led Reform UK's 2021 Welsh Parliament election campaign but is no longer a member of the party.
Sky News
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Ex-Reform UK leader in Wales Nathan Gill in court over alleged Russian bribes
The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has appeared in court after he was accused of making favourable statements about Russia in the European Parliament in exchange for bribes. Nathan Gill, 51, has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery under the Criminal Law Act 1977, and with eight counts of bribery under the Bribery Act, 2010, the Metropolitan Police said. Westminster Magistrates' Court heard Gill allegedly made statements in the European Parliament and in opinion pieces to news outlets, such as 112 Ukraine, which were "supportive of a particular narrative" and would "benefit Russia regarding events in Ukraine". Gill - who was an MEP for almost six years and a member of the Welsh parliament, the Senedd, between 2016 and 2017 - is alleged to have been asked by former Ukrainian politician Oleg Voloshyn to make specific statements about Russia in return for money on at least eight occasions. The conspiracy to commit bribery charge relates 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 position as an MEP. The other bribery offences are alleged to have taken place between 6 December 2018 and 18 July 2019. Gill, from Llangefni on Anglesey, was previously a member of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), leading the Welsh wing of the party between 2014 and 2016. He left UKIP in 2019, and the same year he joined Nigel Farage's Brexit Party - later Reform UK - and was elected as a Brexit Party MEP. Gill was confirmed as leader of Reform UK Wales in 2021 ahead of Senedd elections, but reports suggest he left the party months later when he failed to win a seat. A spokesperson for Reform UK Wales confirmed Gill was no longer a member, and said the party would not be commenting. Gill was stopped at Manchester Airport on 13 September 2021 under the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, the court also heard. The Crown Prosecution Service said charges have been authorised against Voloshyn but he is not in the jurisdiction. Gill was granted bail on the condition that he surrender his passport, does not obtain international travel documents and does not contact Voloshyn.
Telegraph
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Ex-Reform leader ‘accepted bribes to talk up Russia'
The former leader of Reform UK in Wales accepted bribes in exchange for making favourable statements about Russia in the European Parliament, a court has heard. Nathan Gill is charged with eight counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Westminster magistrates' court heard Mr Gill allegedly made such statements in the European Parliament and in opinion pieces to news outlets, such as 112 Ukraine, which were 'supportive of a particular narrative' which would 'benefit Russia regarding events in Ukraine'. The defendant is alleged to have been tasked by Oleg Voloshyn on at least eight occasions to make specific statements in return for money. During Monday's hearing, the 51-year-old spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address with no pleas being entered to the charges. Mr Gill was stopped at Manchester Airport on Sept 13 2021 under the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, the court also heard. He was first elected as a Ukip member of the European Parliament in 2014 and his role ended when the UK left the EU in 2020 – at which point he was an MEP for the Brexit Party. The defendant led Reform UK's 2021 Welsh Parliament election campaign but is no longer a member of the party. The Crown Prosecution Service said charges have been authorised against Voloshyn but he is not in the jurisdiction. Mr Gill, of Anglesey, north Wales, was granted bail on the condition that he surrender his passport, is not to obtain international travel documents and not to contact Voloshyn, and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on March 14.
BBC News
24-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Reform Wales: Ex-leader Nathan Gill paid for Russia support
The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has appeared in court accused of accepting bribes in exchange for making favourable statements about Russia in the European Gill is charged with eight counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit Magistrates' Court heard allegations he made statements in the European Parliament and in opinion pieces to news outlets, such as 112 Ukraine, which were "supportive of a particular narrative" which would "benefit Russia regarding events in Ukraine".During Monday's hearing, the 51-year-old spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address with no pleas being entered to the charges. The defendant is alleged to have been tasked by Oleg Voloshyn on at least eight occasions to make specific statements in return for money.A spokesperson for Reform Wales said Mr Gill "is not a member of Reform UK". Mr Gill was stopped at Manchester Airport on September 13 2021 under the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, the court also was an MEP for almost six years and briefly represented north Wales in the Welsh Gill was first elected as a UKIP MEP in 2014 and joined the National Assembly, as it was then called, in was an Assembly Member for just over a year, before he was replaced by Mandy Jones in December served as UKIP's leader for Wales and was briefly an independent before joining Reform's predecessor organisation, the Brexit Party, in north Wales politician led Reform's 2021 Welsh Parliament election campaign. It is not clear precisely when Gill ceased being leader of Reform UK Wales, but the job has not existed for some time. The Crown Prosecution Service said charges were authorised against Mr Voloshyn, but he is not in the Gill, of Anglesey, was granted bail on the condition that he surrender his passport, is not to obtain international travel documents and not to contact Mr Voloshyn. He is due to appear at the Old Bailey on 14 March.
