Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon arrested by police over SNP finance probe
Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested by police investigating SNP finances.
Police Scotland said she is in custody and is being questioned by detectives.
The former first minister’s arrest comes after her husband Peter Murrell was arrested in April.
A spokesperson for Nicola Sturgeon said she attended an interview by arrangement with Police Scotland today, where she was questioned and later arrested.
Mr Murrell and MSP Colin Beattie, who was SNP treasurer at the time, were both released without charge pending further inquiry.
As well as the arrests, searches were carried out at a number of properties, including Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeon’s home – where a police tent was erected in the garden – and SNP headquarters in Edinburgh.
The investigation – dubbed Operation Branchform – began in 2021.
The long-running inquiry is linked to the spending of around £600,000 raised by supporters to be earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning.
It is understood there have been complaints the ringfenced cash may have been used improperly by being spent elsewhere.
Police have previously searched the SNP headquarters and Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell’s home as part of the investigation.
A luxury £100,000 motorhome was also seized from outside the home of Mr Murrell’s mother in Dunfermline, Fife.
A Nicola Sturgeon spokesperson said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon has today, Sunday, June 11th, by arrangement with Police Scotland attended an interview where she was to be arrested and questioned in relation to Operation Branchform.
‘Nicola has consistently said she would co-operate with the investigation if asked and continues to do so.’
The SNP has said it has been ‘cooperating fully’ with the investigation and would ‘continue to do so’.
The force said: ‘A 52-year-old woman has today, Sunday, June 11, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.’
An SNP spokesperson said: ‘These issues are subject to a live police investigation.
‘The SNP have been co-operating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so, however it is not appropriate to publicly address any issues while that investigation is ongoing.’
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