Scottish National Party finance questions at center of probe into Nicola Sturgeon’s husband

Former Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon has issued the first public statement since her husband’s arrest, telling reporters that there will be “continued full cooperation” as an investigation into the funding of the ruling independent Scottish National Party continues. reassured.

Sturgeon’s husband, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, 58, was released Wednesday after being detained by police as part of a party funding probe.

Murrell stepped down as SNP’s chief executive last month.

Scottish police said a 58-year-old man was arrested and released more than 11 hours after being questioned by criminals and is being searched at a number of addresses linked to the investigation pending further investigation. Stated.

A police officer outside the home of Peter Murrell, former chief executive of the Scottish National Party.
photograph: AFPMore

A police van was parked outside the couple’s home in Glasgow, sealed off with blue and white police tape.

A spokesperson for Sturgeon said it was not appropriate to comment on the police investigation, but Sturgeon issued his first public statement since his arrest, promising “full cooperation.”

“I have something to say, but I can’t do it other than to say that we will continue to cooperate fully as we have in the past,” Sturgeon said.

“The last few days have obviously been difficult and at times very traumatic, but I understand it’s part of the process.”

In a speech delivered outside the couple’s home, Sturgeon said he had never shied away from the scrutiny that came with being a public figure, but asked for respect for his neighbor’s privacy as the case unfolded. Admitted.

Investigators are investigating what happened to over $1.1 million raised by Scottish independence activists in 2017.

Party accounts released by the Election Commission, an independent watchdog, showed that the party had about $765,000 in cash or cash equivalents at the end of 2018.

Meanwhile, SNP said it was not appropriate to comment on the ongoing police investigation, but said it was cooperating with the investigation.

– ABC/Reuters