THE cost of a police investigation into the SNP's finances combined with Crown Office spending has soared to £2.7 million, it has been revealed.
The latest figures released by Police Scotland show that expenditure on Operation Branchform is now more than £2.2m.
This is despite the fact the probe came to an end four months ago.
The sums, obtained by the Daily Record through a Freedom of Information request, include £2.1m in police officer salary costs, £94,927 in police officer overtime, £2962 in police staff overtime, £7691 in transport costs including flights and £11,020 in supplies and services.
Earlier this month it was revealed that the separate cost to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service – who will lead any future prosecution – has more than doubled from £206,000 in February to £460,000 this month.
Operation Branchform was launched in July 2021 and investigated allegations that £666,953 raised by the SNP since 2017 for independence campaigning was spent unlawfully on other activities.
In April 2023, just after Nicola Sturgeon resigned as first minister, her husband and former [[SNP]] chief executive Peter Murrell was arrested by [[Police Scotland]]. He was re-arrested and then charged in April 2024.
In March, Murrell appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on one charge of embezzlement where he made no plea and was granted bail.
No date had been set for Murrell's next court appearance.
Earlier this month it emerged Murrell had an application for solemn legal aid approved by the Scottish Legal Aid Board.
During Operation Branchform, Sturgeon was also arrested and questioned, as was former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie, but the police investigations against both were dropped in March with no charges or further action against either.
Murrell, who has split with Sturgeon, stood down as chief executive in March 2023 following a row over party membership figures.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Given there are live proceedings in this case, it would not be appropriate for us to comment."
A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: "Resources are being applied to this investigation, which includes an ongoing prosecution, in line with its significance.
"Prosecutors take decisions independently, free from political influence or external interference, relying on evidence and the law."
