Peter Murrell 'faces charge of embezzling £459,000 from SNP'

Ex-SNP chief executive Peter Murrell is facing allegations he embezzled £459,000 from the party over more than 12 years, it was claimed today.

Details of the accusations against the estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon have been revealed in a copy of the indictment.

Mr Murrell is expected to appear at the High Court in Glasgow next Friday for a preliminary hearing in the case. 

According to the document seen by BBC News, he is accused of embezzling the funds between August 2010 and January 2023.

The money was allegedly used to buy items including luxury goods, jewellery and a motorhome.

He made no plea during an initial appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last year, after which he was granted bail.

The 60-year-old was first arrested in April 2023 as part of the police investigation into the SNP's finances. 

He was charged in April 2024.

The BBC said the indictment papers are subject to change up until the point the accused appears in court and throughout the judicial process. 

Until he stood down in 2023 during the leadership race to succeed Ms Sturgeon, Murrell had been chief executive of the SNP for more than 20 years.

In January last year, Ms Sturgeon announced she and Murrell had 'decided to end' their marriage.