A FORMER Member of the European Parliament for South East England has been charged with fraud and misconduct in public office.
Ashley Mote, 78, has also been charged with receiving the proceeds of crime and false accounting.
The alleged offences took place while he was MEP between 2004 and 2009.
He was elected in June 2004 for UKIP, becoming an independent days afterwards. He stood down at the 2009 election.
A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said: “The CPS has issued charges against Ashley Mote of obtaining a money transfer by deception, fraud by false representation, false accounting, receiving the proceeds of crime and misconduct in public office.
"We have decided there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest."
She added no further action would be taken against three other individuals who were also being investigated.
One faced claims of obtaining money transfer by deception, false accounting and fraud by false representation. Two faced claims of money laundering.
Mr Mote is due to appear before Westminster magistrates on November 3.
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