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More details have emerged about how former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell stole hundreds of thousands of pounds from party funds, as ITV News Correspondent Rachel Townsend reports<\/p>\n
Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell used party charge card and created fake invoices to buy hundreds of thousands of pounds’ worth of items, including a \u00a3100,000 motorhome and a \u00a33,000 robotic lawnmower with party donations, a court has heard.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, the High Court in Edinburgh heard he embezzled \u00a3400,310.65 from the SNP\u2019s principal bank account, \u201cover which he had control\u201d.<\/p>\n
Alan Cameron KC said the funds in that account came mainly from \u201cmembership fees and donations paid by party members and other donors and legacies\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said Murrell falsified accounting records and created fake invoices in an effort to cover up his wrongdoing, as he racked up purchases that included a \u00a3124,550 motorhome and thousands of pounds’ worth of luxury stationery.<\/p>\n
He told the court that one of the vehicles included a Volkswagen Golf car, which was later sold, and the proceeds were used towards buying a Jaguar I-Pace worth more than \u00a381,000.<\/p>\n
The advocate depute said a false invoice was created for this, submitting the claim as \u201cstage payment\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Cameron KC said: \u201cHe claimed that the payment was for staging for national events.\u201dThe advocate depute also discussed the purchase of a motorhome by Murrell, which was worth \u00a3124,550.<\/p>\n
When police seized the vehicle from his mother\u2019s house, the odometer showed it had only been driven for four miles.<\/p>\n
Scotland’s former first minister Nicola Sturgeon previously said that she had been lied to by her former husband. Credit: PA<\/p>\n
He said it was described as a \u201cvan rather than a motorhome\u201d when the invoice was filed.Mr Cameron KC said: \u201cIt was never used or seen by any other party member or employee.\u201dMurrell appeared in court dressed in a dark blue suit and black tie.<\/p>\n
Murrell, 61, pleaded guilty on Monday last week to embezzling a total of \u00a3400,310.65 from the SNP between August 2010 and October 2022.<\/p>\n
A wine coaster purchased by Murrell. Credit: PA<\/p>\n
The cash was used to buy a range of items, including designer kitchenware, multiple pairs of shoes, expensive pens and a \u00a31,200 space telescope<\/a>.<\/p>\n The sentencing of former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon\u2019s ex-husband is due to take place later in June.<\/p>\n Murrell\u2019s guilty plea has led to intense scrutiny for Nicola Sturgeon, who has denied knowledge of his crimes, saying she was \u201cdeceived, misled and betrayed\u201d.<\/p>\n The former SNP leader said she has been \u201ccompletely exonerated\u201d after a \u201ctwo-year-long, very forensic police investigation\u201d which saw police officers search the home she and Murrell had shared.<\/p>\n Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter <\/a>for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning.<\/p>\n Ms Sturgeon was arrested and questioned as part of the police investigation into the SNP\u2019s finances, which was known as Operation Branchform, but Police Scotland confirmed she would face no action.<\/p>\n At the weekend, the former first minister told the BBC\u2019s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme she feels like she is \u201cserving a sentence for a crime I did not commit\u201d.<\/a><\/p>\n Murrell\u2019s guilty plea has also led to calls for an independent investigation into the SNP\u2019s finances.<\/p>\n Former first minister Lord Jack McConnell has said a joint inquiry by both Holyrood and Westminster committees should examine Murrell\u2019s embezzlement.<\/p>\n Shadow Scottish secretary Andrew Bowie has called on Westminster\u2019s Scottish Affairs Committee to initiate an inquiry.<\/p>\n