It's because any more than that and they would be barred for sitting/voting in the Hse and standing at the next GE. So, they restrict the maximum jail term to get round it. Theoretically, an MP can be tried, convicted & serve an 11 month sentence and still be allowed to resume his seat. Nice work!
Some of the transactions appear to be money laundering.
Unless I am mistaken, money laundering is quite widely defined.
Something along the lines of, any transaction which has the purpose of or appears to have the purpose of concealing the proceeds of a crime.
Five years in the Slammer.
And if claiming interest payment compensation for a mortgage you have already paid off is not a crime, then I don't know what is.
So get them on the lesser crime (now defined by Parliament) of expenses fiddling, then hit them again with money laundering too.
Finally apply the proceeds of crime act to confiscate all their assets too. We'll have 'em sitting at the side of the road selling the Big Issue before you can say 'Boo'!
Commenting by HaloScan
