Former MP Jared O'Mara faces a string of fraud charges in court, police have confirmed.
The seven charges against the ex-Sheffield Hallam MP relate to allegedly fraudulent expense claims sent to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority in 2019.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had authorised police to charge Jared O’Mara with fraud by false representation.
He is charged alongside former aide Gareth Arnold, who faces six counts of fraud by false representation.
The CPS said Mr O’Mara and a third man, John Woodliff were also charged with a Proceeds of Crime Act offence.
All three men will appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Friday September 24.
Mr O’Mara stepped down as MP for Sheffield Hallam at the 2019 general election. He had been elected as a Labour MP and toppled the former Lib Dem leader and ex-deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.
He later left the Labour Party, however, and continued to sit as an independent, despite numerous calls for him to stand down.
Rosemary Ainslie, head of Special Crime at the CPS, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised police to charge Jared O’Mara, former MP for Sheffield Hallam, with seven counts of fraud by false representation.
“The charge relates to an allegation he made fraudulent invoices to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority in 2019 jointly with Gareth Arnold, who is also charged with six counts of the same offence.
“Jared O’Mara is charged jointly with John Woodliff with a Proceeds of Crime Act offence.
“The CPS made the decision that the three men should be charged after reviewing a file of evidence from South Yorkshire Police.
“The CPS reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are active and that they have a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
