The SNP might be heading to another victory – but all is not going swimmingly for the nationalists. The party’s former chief executive Peter Murrell – best known as Nicola Sturgeon’s estranged husband – is in the firing line over more allegations concerning the party finances. Murrell is facing a charge of embezzling £459,000 from the party over a period of more than 12 years, according to a copy of an indictment seen by the BBC and Scottish Sun. Uh oh…
According to the document, Murrell is accused of embezzling the funds between August 2010 and January 2023. He is is alleged to have used the cash to buy items including cars, a motorhome, luxury goods, shoes, cosmetics and jewellery over a twelve-and-a-half year period. He picked up a £125,000 motorhome bought from an English firm and had it shipped almost 300 miles to near his mum’s home In Dunfermline – then stored it at her property, according to court papers.
Included in the charge sheet is claims he embezzled nearly £160,000 to buy goods for himself ‘or others’ from 82 firms including luxury brands – all while Nicola Sturgeon was First Minister. The charge sheet detailing allegations against Sturgeon’s ex says he spent £159,757 of funds between December 11, 2014 – the month after his wife took over from Alex Salmond – and June 22, 2022. Sturgeon has always strenuously denied any wrongdoing while Murrell is yet to address the allegations publicly.
He is due to appear at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday 20 February for a preliminary hearing in the case. Make no mistake: this will be one for the ages.
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