Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell admits embezzling party funds

Peter Murrell pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to embezzling £400,310.65 from the SNP over more than a decade. He admitted using party funds to buy luxury goods including jewellery, cosmetics, two cars, and a motorhome. The court heard he was responsible for a gross breach of trust and he was remanded in custody. Murrell, who served as SNP chief executive for more than 20 years and is estranged from Nicola Sturgeon, faces a potentially lengthy prison sentence. He is due to be sentenced on 23 June. SNP leader John Swinney said the conduct was an overwhelming betrayal of party members. Court documents detail major transactions, including a £124,550 motorhome paid entirely with party funds.

"Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has admitted embezzling more than 400,000 from the party over more than a decade. Murrell, the estranged husband of the former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh and has been remanded in custody. The 61-year-old used party funds to illicitly purchase luxury goods, jewellery, cosmetics, two cars and a motorhome. He admitted to embezzling a total of 400,310.65 between 12 August 2010 and 19 October 2022."

"Judge Lord Young said the former political heavyweight was responsible for a "gross breach of trust". He was handcuffed before a hushed courtroom before he was led from the dock. Murrell now faces a potentially lengthy prison sentence. He is to be sentenced on 23 June. When details of the charge emerged earlier this year, Murrell was accused of embezzling 459,046.49 between 12 August 2010 and 13 January 2023. However, it was confirmed at the High Court hearing that the total sum had been cut to 400,310.65, with the period of offending also reduced by three months."

"The court published 125 pages of documents detailing Murrell's purchases. The largest single transaction, in 2020, was 124,550 for a luxury motorhome, paid for entirely with party funds. Murrell was accused of creating false documents to disguise the payment as a legitimate party expense. His first major purchase, a 33,000 Volkswagen Golf, was made in early 2016 using 16,489 of SNP money. He used 57,500 of party cash to buy a Jaguar I-PACE car in 2019, and sold it for 47,378.76 two years later."

"SNP leader and First Minister John Swinney said he was "horrified" by Murrell's conduct, describing it as an "overwhelming betrayal" of party members. Murrell, who served as SNP chief executive for more than 20 years, now faces a potentially lengthy prison sentence. He pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh and has been remanded in custody. The 61-year-old used party funds to illicitly purchase luxury goods, jewellery, cosmetics, two cars and a motorhome."

Read at www.bbc.com