Peter Murrell unable to sell property during police probe


Peter Murrell, who is the former SNP executive and Nicola Sturgeon’s recently separated husband, is currently forbidden to sell any property he owns. This ban, known as an “inhibition” under legal terms, was put in place last June following Murrell’s embezzlement charge during a police investigation into SNP finances.

The Daily Record newspaper reported the financial restriction one week after the announcement of the couple’s separation. The two were wed in 2010 and resided in a house on the outskirts of Glasgow, which they are believed to co-own.

The investigation into SNP finances, known as Operation Branchform, began more than three years ago, and Murrell was first arrested and questioned in April 2023. One year later, he was charged with embezzlement, and the Crown Office is currently evaluating how the investigation should continue.

In June 2023, Nicola Sturgeon was also arrested, but she was released without charge, and she stated that her decision to resign as SNP leader and first minister earlier that year was not related to the police inquiry. Furthermore, Colin Beattie, the former SNP treasurer, who was arrested around the same time as Murrell, has also denied any wrongdoing.

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain has no influence over police investigations involving politicians, which is necessary in cases like these, especially since she is a member of the Scottish government. However, court actions have to be registered in the name of the Lord Advocate, which is a constitutional position that does not involve personal engagement.

Despite the progress made during police investigations, Ms. Sturgeon reported that she has learned nothing about their state since her previous arrest in 2023. The Operation Branchform inquiry commenced after allegations surfaced concerning £650,000 in donations for independence campaigning and how they had been allocated. In September, police notified prosecutors about what they had discovered in an “advice and guidance report” and asked for formal counsel on how to proceed

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