THE former chief executive of Aberdeen District Council, Mr Donald

MacDonald, is facing criminal charges after a police investigation

following claims he used a false qualification and claimed membership of

professional organisations of which he was not a member.

After the investigation, which is understood to have concentrated on

any possible offences of fraud, a report was submitted to the

procurator-fiscal in Aberdeen who had initiated the investigation.

The #60,000-a-year chief executive was awarded an early retirement

package worth #287,000 over the next 10 years when he gave up his job

over the controversy.

Grampian Regional Council, which administers the pension fund on

behalf of Aberdeen District Council, which sanctioned the package, are

seeking legal advice on ways of preventing the payment.