SCOTLAND'S most senior police chief has addressed the probe into the SNP's finances following Peter Murrell's guilty plea.
On Monday, the former SNP chief executive – who is also the estranged husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon – pleaded guilty to embezzling £400,000 from the SNP over 12 years, from 2010 to 2022.
The plea came following a five-year investigation into the SNP, called Operation Branchform, which had been set up in response to concerns about how they party had spent some £660,000 raised for a second independence referendum campaign.
On Thursday, speaking at a Scottish Police Authority meeting, Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell said the investigators “worked under intense scrutiny” in a case with “significant public interest”.
Farrell said police had gathered "compelling evidence" against Murrell, and thanked Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston, who led the “complex” inquiry, as well as other senior officers in the investigation and Police Scotland’s financial crime unit.
The Chief Constable said: “Their efforts led to this week’s guilty plea by Peter Murrell, who abused his position to divert SNP funds to his own account to fund luxuries.
“I would pay tribute to the integrity and skill of Stuart and the investigation team, who went about their work methodically and professionally in the midst of significant commentary.”
After Murrell's conviction on Monday, Houston said: “This was a lengthy and extremely complex case due to the scale of criminality over a 12-year period and the lengths Peter Murrell went to try and cover his tracks.
“I commend the professionalism and absolute dedication of the Operation Branchform team who spent more than four years carrying out extensive enquiries across Europe to unpick Murrell’s offending.
“All of this work, in close partnership with colleagues from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, was carried out under the most intense public scrutiny and it was their commitment to gathering such detailed and compelling evidence that brought us to the High Court today.
“This is without doubt one of the most high-profile investigations in recent times and it is testimony to the work of Police Scotland officers and staff that has led to Peter Murrell’s admission of guilt early in the court process.
“I would also like to thank the many witnesses who came forward to provide us with statements as we built the case against Peter Murrell. Their engagement with us was vital.
“Peter Murrell has shown utter contempt for the high public trust placed in him as the Chief Executive of a political party and his position in the wider political establishment in Scotland for many years.
“He abused his privileged position with access to Scottish National Party funds to divert cash into his own accounts and bankroll the lavish lifestyle he craved but could not afford.
“From 2010 to 2022 he spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on luxury goods while carefully trying to hide his criminality with false receipts and accounting.
“He must now face the consequences of his actions.”
Murrell is due to be sentenced on June 23.
