Former Scottish National Party CEO Peter Murrell (L) is accused of stealing more than $626,000 from the party and will appear in Edinburgh High Court in May, but his ex-wife, Nicola Sturgeon (R) is not accused of any wrongdoing. File Photo by Robert Perry/EPA
Peter Murrell, the former CEO of the Scottish National Party, has been accused of embezzling more than $626,000 over a 12-year period, an indictment made public Friday indicates.
Murrell, 61, is expected to appear in a preliminary hearing at Glasgow’s High Court in Edinburgh on May 25. He is accused of embezzling the funds from the political party’s accounts Aug. 12, 2010, through Jan. 13, 2023.
He initially had a preliminary hearing scheduled on Feb. 20 in Glasgow, but the court and date were changed.
A police investigation dubbed Operation Branchform led to Murrell’s arrest in 2023, and he was charged in April 2024.
Prosecutors allege that Murrell used the funds to buy a motorhome, two vehicles, jewelry, luxury items and cosmetics, as initially reported by The Scottish Sun.
He faces eight charges that accuse him of embezzlement and falsifying documents to hide the alleged theft.
Police say the largest expenditure was $169,911 on the motorhome for his personal use. He allegedly created false documents that indicated the purchase was for the political party.
He also is accused of using party funds to buy a Jaguar I-PACE car in 2019, for which prosecutors say he submitted a false invoice to hide the purchase.
Investigators said Murrell sold the vehicle in 2021 and deposited the proceeds into his personal bank account.
Murrell’s ex-wife, Nicola Sturgeon, is not accused of any wrongdoing. The former first minister and SNP party leader announced their divorce on Jan. 13, 2025, ending their 15-year marriage.
