Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell charged in finance investigation

Peter Murrell, who is the spouse of the ex-first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, has been accused in relation to theft after being detained by the police for the second time. The authorities are investigating accusations concerning the Scottish National party's financing and monetary matters.

Murrell, who used to be the head honcho of the Scottish National Party, got taken into custody by detectives from Police Scotland in April 2023. They thought he could be involved in something wrong, and they questioned him at the residence that he lived in with Sturgeon in Glasgow. However, the police let him go that very same day and are now doing more investigating.

On Thursday, Police Scotland informed that Murrell had been taken into custody once again in the early hours of the morning for questioning. The police department issued a short statement on Thursday, stating that they have filed charges against him for stealing money from the Scottish National Party.

The police stated that Murrell has been set free from detention and they will send a report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service at the appropriate time.

It has been stated that Murrell has stepped down from being a member of the SNP.

According to a statement from the police force of Scotland, a male aged 59 has been accused on Thursday 18 April 2024, for being involved in stealing money from the Scottish National Party (SNP).

Today at 9:13 in the morning, a man was taken into custody by Police Scotland. This was not the first time he had been arrested, as he was previously held as a suspect on the 5th of April 2023. After further questioning by detectives who were investigating the party's finances and funding, the man was charged at 6:35 in the evening.

The guy has been released from the police custody. Since the investigation is still in progress, we cannot provide any additional information at this moment.

The issue at hand falls under the Contempt of Court Act 1981, meaning that it is an ongoing legal matter. To prevent any potential harm caused by public discussion on social media, it is recommended that caution be exercised when talking about it. As a precautionary measure, Police Scotland has disabled the comments section on this post.

A representative for the SNP stated that although this news is surprising, the investigation by the police is still ongoing and it would not be suitable to give any statements at this time.

Following Murrell's first arrest in 2023, law enforcement set up tents in front of their separate home to examine the yard and take away proof from the premises.

Detectives conducted a chain of connected activities which included exploring the main office of the party situated in Edinburgh. They also took hold of an opulent camper placed in the driveway of Murrell's elderly mother's house in Dunfermline.

Afterward, the authorities took into custody the treasurer of the party at that time, Colin Beattie, who was an SNP member of the Scottish Parliament. They questioned him while cautioning him at his home in Midlothian and then released him without charge on the very same day.

After a period of two months, specifically on the 11th of June, the authorities apprehended Sturgeon and conducted an interrogation through a pre-planned arrangement. Subsequently, Sturgeon was released without any charges being pressed against them.

She has consistently refuted any allegations of misconduct and asserts that her resignation as the longest-serving first minister of Scotland in March 2023 had no connection to the police's inquiry into the SNP, which is referred to as Operation Branchform.

In July 2021, Police Scotland initiated Operation Branchform due to multiple complaints regarding the SNP's financial affairs. The focal point of these grievances was the £667,000 in donations meant for a fighting fund promoting independence.

The financial records of the party were not transparent enough to confirm the whereabouts of the funds, fueling claims that it was utilized for the SNP's regular expenses. The party explained that the money was "allocated" according to their in-house accounting procedures.

A number of conflicts regarding the openness of financial governance arose in the party, which resulted in three finance and audit committee members stepping down in March 2021 due to their inability to access the party's financial records. This unrest caused a disturbance to the party.

After two months, the MP Douglas Chapman stepped down as the treasurer. Shortly after, Joanna Cherry, another MP, also resigned from her role on the national executive committee.

In June of 2021, Murrell lent £107,000 to the party to help with their financial situation. However, due to their limited resources, the party was unable to pay back the full loan until October of the same year. It wasn't until December 2022 that the news of this loan finally came to light.

The deputy head of the Scottish Labour Party, Jackie Baillie, has expressed worry over the latest development in the lengthy investigation. She emphasized the need for Police Scotland to carry out their investigation without any disruptions.

Craig Hoy, the head of the Scottish Conservatives, has expressed grave concerns about the news that Peter Murrell has been charged by Police Scotland in relation to the SNP's financial dealings. This marks a significant turning point in the ongoing investigation.

With the investigation by the police ongoing, it is of utmost significance that all present and previous SNP employees and politicians give their full cooperation.

After three years of investigation, it seems that the conclusion is on the horizon and it is imperative that the SNP shows full transparency and openness during this crucial period.

A representative from the COPFS stated that both expert prosecutors and an Advocate Depute are collaborating with the police in the ongoing inquiry.

Normally, cases that involve politicians are handled by prosecutors without the Lord Advocate or solicitor general getting involved. In Scotland, prosecutors work without any political intervention and with complete independence.

As a normal practice, we avoid providing extensive information on how investigations are conducted in order to maintain their reliability.