Overview

• Peter Murrell, former SNP chief executive, has been charged with embezzlement as part of Police Scotland's Operation Branchform investigation into party finances.
• Murrell appeared at a private petition hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, where he made no plea or declaration and was released on bail pending further examination.
• The investigation has also implicated other senior SNP figures, including Nicola Sturgeon and Colin Beattie, both of whom were previously arrested but released without charge.
• The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service emphasized the independence of prosecutors in handling the case and warned against potential contempt of court violations.
• Murrell and former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, who announced their separation earlier this year, remain central figures in the high-profile inquiry.