Overview
- Tuesday reports say Operation Branchform detectives believe Nicola Sturgeon’s 2023 written statement did not answer all the questions they had after she gave a “no comment” police interview.
- Peter Murrell pleaded guilty in May 2026 to embezzling about £400,310 from SNP fundraising and now faces sentencing and possible asset‑recovery actions for items seized by police.
- Sturgeon was arrested and questioned on June 11, 2023, answered “no comment,” later submitted a detailed written response, and was told in March 2025 that prosecutors would take no further action against her.
- Sturgeon’s lawyer, Aamer Anwar, says she fully cooperated and that taking “no comment” was standard legal advice, while police sources have privately expressed frustration at unanswered points.
- The case highlights legal steps beyond criminal charges such as proceeds‑of‑crime recovery and reset (the Scots law offence of handling goods bought with stolen money) and has deepened scrutiny of SNP governance and donor protections.