crime
Reports: Man of Scottish former head of government charged
Former Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon (l.) and her husband Peter Murrell. photo
© Kirsty O’connor/PA/dpa
It’s about 660,000 pounds of donations that have disappeared – and of all people, the husband of ex-Prime Minister Sturgeon is suspected.
The husband of the former Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Peter Murrell, has been charged with embezzling party donations, according to British media reports. This was reported by the British news agency PA, among others, citing the police.
The then managing director of the Scottish Independence Party (SNP) and his wife had already been questioned as part of an investigation last year. The 59-year-old and his wife always denied any allegations. Scottish police initially spoke of an arrest, but later said that the man arrested had been charged. However, he is now at large again.
Murrell resigned from office last year after more than 20 years. Sturgeon also resigned last year. The investigation is reportedly involving around £660,000 (currently around €770,000) in donations for a new independence referendum, the whereabouts of which are said to be unclear. The couple’s home in Glasgow was also searched as part of the investigation. According to the BBC, an expensive motorhome that was parked at Murrell’s mother’s address was also seized at the time.