A THIRD leading official at Glasgow City Council has been suspended as an investigation into years of alleged financial irregularities widens.
Marjorie Miller, manager of the council's business advice team, has not been at work since the start of the week and is the most senior of the three staff suspended over the investigation.
She faces questions over an award of financial assistance to a firm linked with her husband, who runs a freelance photography firm from their home.
Senior sources within the authority say they expect more suspensions to follow in the coming days and weeks.
On Saturday, The Herald reported that officers Kaiser Khan and Evelyn Beck in the unit, which is dedicated to helping start-up businesses with grants, loans, staff and facilities, had been suspended as part of the investigation, which already goes back several years.
The pair are part of the unit within Development And Regeneration Services (DRS) under investigation. It was sparked during routine auditing and has since extended into other areas where council staff have been working with further and higher education institutions.
Part of the inquiry is examining allegations that DRS officers were hiring themselves as freelance business consultants to firms they had assisted. Another officer, sacked earlier this year for hiring his daughter as a consultant, is also being investigated.
It is understood the alleged irregularities were unearthed by new blood within the department.
The revelations about the suspensions of Mr Khan and Mrs Beck led to a number of whistleblowers coming forward with more information. One senior manager is under the microscope for failing to notice how his department was being run.
Ms Miller is understood to move in the same social circles as council leader Gordon Matheson, although senior sources have said it would be a leap to describe the pair as friends.
The opposition SNP group on the council has asked for a list of all grants provided through funds the officers worked with for over the last five years, who authorised the payments, and who were the recipients.
It has also requested a list of all grants provided for economic and social business initiatives.
One source said: "The basic allegation about Marjorie Miller is she contracted with a firm connected to her husband. We expect there to be more suspension in the next while. Names keep getting thrown up but you do not immediately suspend them.
"Other senior staff maybe not involved in the allegations will be questioned as to how this happened on their watch."
Another said: "It is a combination of new eyes looking at invoices, receipts, accounts and not liking the look of anything whiffy. You can only imagine the level of money going through this department and then ask whether there are serious governance issues here and blind trust in officers."
SNP group leader Graeme Hendry said: "There must be a full and thorough investigation and should it uncover any links to elected members past or present these too must be explored without fear or favour to establish all the facts in this case."
A council spokesman said: "An individual has been suspended on a precautionary basis pending an investigation into alleged financial irregularities."
A man who answered the door of Ms Miller's home in Kelvinside, Glasgow, refused to comment.
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