Peter Murrell left Falkirk Police Station after being charged with embezzlement
By Katy Scott
BBC Scotland News
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.
He was previously arrested as a suspect on 5 April 2023 before being released without charge.
Mr Murrell resigned as the party’s chief executive in March 2023.
He was charged at 18:35 after further questioning by Police Scotland officers investigating the funding and finances of the party.
Mr Murrell has since been released from police custody at Falkirk Police Station.
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.
When Mr Murrell was arrested last year, police searched the house he shares with Ms Sturgeon in Glasgow and the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh.
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 Fife 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.
Later on 18 April 2023, SNP treasurer Colin Beattie was arrested and interviewed by police before being released pending further investigation. He later resigned his position in the party.
Nicola 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.
Police erected a tent in front of the house Mr Murrell shares with Ms Sturgeon when he was arrested last year
Ms Sturgeon had unexpectedly announced she was resigning as SNP leader and first minister four months earlier in February 2023.
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.”
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts.
