THE former managing director of a bus firm has been accused of fraud and false accounting after the company allegedly claimed £814,655 more than it was due from Gwynedd Council for concessionary fare passengers.

John Hulme, 55, of Glan Seiont, Caernarfon, denied the allegation that, between July 2011 and December 2012 at Llanberis, there were claims that Padarn Bus carried more concessionary passengers than was true.

A Caernarfon Crown Court jury heard the alleged fraud had involved £495,857 at the point when the defendant was suspended.

“He (Hulme), as managing director, had a central role in relation to the finances of the company from the outset,” prosecuting barrister Matthew Dunford declared.

The prosecution said the company had a fleet of 43 buses and 79 employees. But Padarn “routinely made falsely inflated claims to Gwynedd Council, claiming the company had carried substantially more concessionary passengers than was in fact the case.”

Hulme has pleaded not guilty.

The trial continues.