By means of Katy ScottBBC Scotland News18 April 2024, 17:09 BSTUpdated 1 hour agoVideo caption, Watch: Peter Murrell arrives house from Falkirk Police station the place he used to be puzzled and charged with embezzlementThe husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been charged in reference to the embezzlement of finances from the Scottish Nationwide Celebration.Peter Murrell, 59, used to be taken into custody at 09:13 on Thursday and used to be puzzled by means of Police Scotland detectives.He used to be prior to now arrested as a suspect on 5 April 2023 sooner than being launched at no cost.BBC Scotland understands Mr Murrell has resigned his SNP club.He used to be charged at 18:35 after additional wondering by means of officials investigating the investment and budget of the birthday celebration as a part of Operation Branchform.Mr Murrell has since been launched from police custody at Falkirk Police Station and returned to his house close to Glasgow in a while after 20:00He resigned because the SNP’s leader govt in March of ultimate 12 months after 22 years within the activity.An SNP spokesperson mentioned: “Whilst this construction will come as a surprise, the police investigation stays ongoing and it will, subsequently, be beside the point to make any remark.”Symbol caption, Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell, noticed right here after balloting within the 2019 common election, were married since 2010Police Scotland introduced a proper investigation into the SNP’s budget in July 2021 after receiving court cases about how donations have been used.Questions have been raised about greater than £660,000 in donations given to the birthday celebration to be used in a contemporary independence referendum marketing campaign.When Mr Murrell used to be arrested ultimate 12 months, police searched the home he stocks with Ms Sturgeon close to Glasgow and the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh. The couple married in 2010.The home used to be sealed off with blue and white tape, whilst a tent used to be erected at the driveway. Pieces have been introduced from the home to the tent, the place the BBC understands a automobile used to be parked.Police additionally seized a camper van from outdoor the Dunfermline house of Mr Murrell’s mom.The Niesmann and Bischoff automobile, which is able to retail for greater than £100,000, used to be seized by means of police the similar morning that Mr Murrell turned into the primary senior birthday celebration determine to be arrested within the probe.On 18 April 2023, SNP treasurer and MSP Colin Beattie used to be arrested and interviewed by means of police sooner than being launched pending additional investigation. He later resigned as treasurer.Symbol caption, Police erected a tent in entrance of the home Mr Murrell stocks with Ms Sturgeon when he used to be arrested ultimate yearMs Sturgeon used to be arrested on 11 June when she voluntarily organized with Police Scotland to be puzzled as a part of the investigation, a spokesperson mentioned on the time.She used to be launched at no cost seven hours later pending additional inquiries.Ms Sturgeon had rapidly introduced she used to be resigning as SNP chief and primary minister 4 months previous in February 2023.Now that Peter Murrell has been charged, the next move is for the police to ship a file at the case to prosecutors on the Crown Place of work and Procurator Fiscal Carrier.Its attorneys will make a decision whether or not the case is going to courtroom, making use of the standard exams.They are going to believe whether or not or now not there is enough proof {that a} crime has been dedicated and that the individual accused by means of the police used to be accountable.They are going to additionally make a decision whether or not a prosecution is within the public hobby.It is arising for 3 years since Operation Branchform used to be introduced so the police file may be a hefty report.How lengthy all this may increasingly take is not transparent.A spokesperson for the Crown Place of work and Procurator Fiscal Carrier (COPFS) mentioned: “Senior skilled prosecutors from COPFS and an Recommend Depute are operating with police in this ongoing investigation.”It’s same old follow that any case referring to politicians is handled by means of prosecutors with out the involvement of the Lord Recommend or Solicitor Normal. All Scotland’s prosecutors act independently of political interference.”As is regimen, to give protection to the integrity of ongoing investigations, we don’t remark intimately on their behavior.”A Police Scotland spokesperson mentioned: “As this investigation is ongoing we’re not able to remark additional.”The subject is lively for the needs of the Contempt of Court docket Act 1981 and the general public are subsequently instructed to workout warning if discussing it on social media.”
