"Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain - who has a dual role as the country's most senior law officer and a Scottish government minister - notified Swinney in an email on 19 January that Murrell had been indicted that day. As well as giving the sum of the funds allegedly embezzled, the Sun reported the memo reiterated a "longstanding tradition" that the lord advocate would not be involved in decisions about a case involving a politician."
"Murrell, the estranged husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, stepped down as SNP chief executive in 2023 after more than two decades in the role. He was arrested that year as part of Operation Branchform, a police investigation into SNP finances. He was charged with embezzlement in April 2024. Murrell is accuse of embezzling 459,000 from the party between August 2010 and January 2023."
Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain, who also serves as a Scottish government minister, emailed John Swinney on 19 January to notify him that Peter Murrell had been indicted that day for allegedly embezzling £459,000 from the SNP. The memo reiterated a "longstanding tradition" that the lord advocate would not take part in decisions about cases involving politicians. COPFS said Bain sent the email to ensure transparency and that it was shared with senior civil servants and special advisers. Murrell stepped down as SNP chief executive in 2023, was arrested during Operation Branchform, and was charged with embezzlement in April 2024; a preliminary hearing was postponed to 25 May.
Read at www.bbc.com
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