Scotland’s ex-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon arrested in party finances probe

Scottish police say report to be sent to Crown Office, Procurator Fiscal Service after questioning

Ahmet Gurhan Kartal |11.06.2023 - 


LONDON

Scotland’s former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been detained on Sunday in connection with an investigation into the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) finances.

"A 52-year-old woman has today, Sunday, 11 June, 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party," Scottish police said in a statement.

"The woman is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives,” it added.

"A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service."

The party’s former chief executive and Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell was previously arrested but later released without charge.

The police confiscated documents and computers after searches in Sturgeon and Murrel’s home and the SNP’s headquarters.

The investigation was launched in 2021 after allegations that approximately £600,000 ($754,000) collected from party supporters for Scottish independence bid was misspent.

Sturgeon has been a staunch supporter of Scotland’s becoming an independent country, separating from the UK.

Scots wanted to remain as part of the UK in a 2014 independence referendum as more than 55% voted against independence. However, the independence bid has been revised following the Brexit vote in 2016 as more than half of the Scottish voters voted to remain in the EU.

Humza Yousaf, first minister of Scotland and the new leader of the SNP said on Sunday that the independence will be front and center of their next general election campaign.