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| Peter Murrell charged with embezzlement in SNP finance probe | Peter Murrell charged with embezzlement in SNP finance probe |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Watch: Peter Murrell arrives home from Falkirk Police station where he was questioned and charged with embezzlement | Watch: Peter Murrell arrives home from Falkirk Police station where he was questioned and charged with embezzlement |
| Watch: Peter Murrell arrives home from Falkirk Police station where he was questioned and charged with embezzlement | Watch: Peter Murrell arrives home from Falkirk Police station where he was questioned and charged with embezzlement |
| The husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been charged in connection with the embezzlement of funds from the Scottish National Party. | The husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been charged in connection with the embezzlement of funds from the Scottish National Party. |
| Peter Murrell, 59, was taken into custody at 09:13 on Thursday and was questioned by Police Scotland detectives. | Peter Murrell, 59, was taken into custody at 09:13 on Thursday and was questioned by Police Scotland detectives. |
| He was previously arrested as a suspect on 5 April 2023 before being released without charge. | He was previously arrested as a suspect on 5 April 2023 before being released without charge. |
| BBC Scotland understands Mr Murrell has resigned his SNP membership. | BBC Scotland understands Mr Murrell has resigned his SNP membership. |
| He was charged at 18:35 after further questioning by officers investigating the funding and finances of the party as part of Operation Branchform. | He was charged at 18:35 after further questioning by officers investigating the funding and finances of the party as part of Operation Branchform. |
| Mr Murrell has since been released from police custody at Falkirk Police Station and returned to his home near Glasgow shortly after 20:00 | Mr Murrell has since been released from police custody at Falkirk Police Station and returned to his home near Glasgow shortly after 20:00 |
| He resigned as the SNP's chief executive in March of last year after 22 years in the job. | He resigned as the SNP's chief executive in March of last year after 22 years in the job. |
| Timeline: The SNP finances controversy | Timeline: The SNP finances controversy |
| Peter Murrell: One half of Scotland's power couple | Peter Murrell: One half of Scotland's power couple |
| An SNP spokesperson said: "While this development will come as a shock, the police investigation remains ongoing and it would, therefore, be inappropriate to make any comment." | An SNP spokesperson said: "While this development will come as a shock, the police investigation remains ongoing and it would, therefore, be inappropriate to make any comment." |
| Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell, seen here after voting in the 2019 general election, have been married since 2010 | Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell, seen here after voting in the 2019 general election, have been married since 2010 |
| Police Scotland launched a formal investigation into the SNP's finances in July 2021 after receiving complaints about how donations were used. | Police Scotland launched a formal investigation into the SNP's finances in July 2021 after receiving complaints about how donations were used. |
| Questions had been raised about more than £660,000 in donations given to the party for use in a fresh independence referendum campaign. | Questions had been raised about more than £660,000 in donations given to the party for use in a fresh independence referendum campaign. |
| When Mr Murrell was arrested last year, police searched the house he shares with Ms Sturgeon near Glasgow and the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh. The couple married in 2010. | When Mr Murrell was arrested last year, police searched the house he shares with Ms Sturgeon near Glasgow and the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh. The couple married in 2010. |
| The house was sealed off with blue and white tape, while a tent was erected on the driveway. Items were brought from the house to the tent, where the BBC understands a vehicle was parked. | The house was sealed off with blue and white tape, while a tent was erected on the driveway. Items were brought from the house to the tent, where the BBC understands a vehicle was parked. |
| Police also seized a camper van from outside the Dunfermline home of Mr Murrell's mother. | Police also seized a camper van from outside the Dunfermline home of Mr Murrell's mother. |
| The Niesmann and Bischoff vehicle, which can retail for more than £100,000, was seized by police the same morning that Mr Murrell became the first senior party figure to be arrested in the probe. | The Niesmann and Bischoff vehicle, which can retail for more than £100,000, was seized by police the same morning that Mr Murrell became the first senior party figure to be arrested in the probe. |
| On 18 April 2023, SNP treasurer and MSP Colin Beattie was arrested and interviewed by police before being released pending further investigation. He later resigned as treasurer. | On 18 April 2023, SNP treasurer and MSP Colin Beattie was arrested and interviewed by police before being released pending further investigation. He later resigned as treasurer. |
| Police erected a tent in front of the house Mr Murrell shares with Ms Sturgeon when he was arrested last year | Police erected a tent in front of the house Mr Murrell shares with Ms Sturgeon when he was arrested last year |
| Ms Sturgeon was arrested on 11 June when she voluntarily arranged with Police Scotland to be questioned as part of the investigation, a spokesperson said at the time. | Ms Sturgeon was arrested on 11 June when she voluntarily arranged with Police Scotland to be questioned as part of the investigation, a spokesperson said at the time. |
| She was released without charge seven hours later pending further inquiries. | She was released without charge seven hours later pending further inquiries. |
| Ms Sturgeon had unexpectedly announced she was resigning as SNP leader and first minister four months earlier in February 2023. | Ms Sturgeon had unexpectedly announced she was resigning as SNP leader and first minister four months earlier in February 2023. |
| Now that Peter Murrell has been charged, the next step is for the police to send a report on the case to prosecutors at the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. | |
| Its lawyers will decide whether the case goes to court, applying the usual tests. | |
| They'll consider whether or not there's sufficient evidence that a crime has been committed and that the person accused by the police was responsible. | |
| They'll also decide whether a prosecution is in the public interest. | |
| It's coming up for three years since Operation Branchform was launched so the police report is likely to be a hefty document. | |
| How long all this will take isn't clear. | |
| A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said: "Senior professional prosecutors from COPFS and an Advocate Depute are working with police on this ongoing investigation. | A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said: "Senior professional prosecutors from COPFS and an Advocate Depute are working with police on this ongoing investigation. |
| "It is standard practice that any case regarding politicians is dealt with by prosecutors without the involvement of the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General. All Scotland's prosecutors act independently of political interference. | "It is standard practice that any case regarding politicians is dealt with by prosecutors without the involvement of the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General. All Scotland's prosecutors act independently of political interference. |
| "As is routine, to protect the integrity of ongoing investigations, we do not comment in detail on their conduct." | "As is routine, to protect the integrity of ongoing investigations, we do not comment in detail on their conduct." |
| A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "As this investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further. | A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "As this investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further. |
| "The matter is active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and the public are therefore advised to exercise caution if discussing it on social media." | "The matter is active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and the public are therefore advised to exercise caution if discussing it on social media." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| SNP (Scottish National Party) | SNP (Scottish National Party) |