Overview
- Peter Murrell has pleaded guilty to embezzling about £400,310 from the SNP and is remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on 23 June.
- Prosecutors read an agreed narrative in Edinburgh High Court that listed 1,066 fraudulent purchases and described specific luxury items including a £124,550 motorhome, watches and cars.
- The court set out how Murrell used falsified invoices, party charge cards and direct transfers and benefited from having direct access to the party’s accounting system and the ability to log and approve expenditures himself.
- Prosecutors said the money came principally from membership fees, donations and legacies while the Electoral Commission says it has seen no evidence that its policy development grants were misused.
- The disclosures have intensified calls for an independent review, First Minister John Swinney has admitted controls were not adequate but rejected a Holyrood inquiry, Nicola Sturgeon denies knowing of the fraud and prosecutors have signalled possible proceeds‑of‑crime recovery.