Former SNP boss Peter Murrell sent to prison for stealing party funds
by Paul Godfrey · UPIJune 23 (UPI) -- A court in Edinburgh sentenced Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the ruling-Scottish National Party, to five years and three months in prison on Tuesday after pleading guilty to embezzling $529,000 from the party.
Murrell, the now ex-husband of former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon received a 21-month discount on the seven-year sentence Judge Lord Young could have imposed in exchange for his guilty plea, avoiding a trial.
Telling Murrell he wanted to make an example of him, Young said his "calculated crime of dishonesty" constituted a "significant breach of trust" that impacted both his party and members of the public who donated to it.
"One factor in the sentence I impose today will be to act as a deterrent to any senior officials in other large organizations who might be tempted to abuse their position in the way you did," said Young.
Young said he was unable to find any reasonable rationale for what Murrell did, noting that in social reports compiled to the court Murell stated that he was unable to stop the stealing until the moment the police arrived to arrest him.
Defense barrister, John Scullion KC, told the High Court sentencing hearing that the 61-year-old was remorseful and ashamed of his actions and that he was unlikely to be able to ever restore his reputation and relationships.
Scullion said Murrell's net worth was sufficient to repay all $529,000 he embezzled over a 12-year period between 2011 and 2023.
However, Young adjourned recovery proceedings through Sept. 14 for Proceeds of Crime Act negotiations between the prosecution and defense on whether interest or other costs were due and whether to seize the funds to cover Police Scotland's four-year, multi-million dollar investigation or hand it back to the SNP.
More than 50 photos gathered during Operation Branchform and shared by the prosecution showed the scale of Murrell's embezzlement. Included are previously unreleased pictures of a $164,553 RV and zoomed-in shots of luxury bags, watches and pens he purchased using money that belonged to the party.
Two other vehicles, a Jaguar I-Pace and a Volkswagen Golf, were both partially paid with SNP funds.
He also made low-value everyday household purchases from kitchen utensils and coffee granules to decorators' caulk, in all more than 1,000 items.
Murrell was first arrested in April 2023. He was charged with embezzlement in 2024, made his first court appearance in February and pled guilty in court in May.
Sturgeon was arrested in June 2023 and released after questioning without any charges.
She has consistently denied any knowledge of Murrell's illegal activity.
In a statement issued via her lawyer after Tuesday's sentencing, Sturgeon said she was still "angry, hurt and distressed" by the terrible effects on her, his family and the party of his behavior.
Sturgeon said she was lied to and betrayed by a man she had trusted, saying she would never be able to come to terms with his actions.
"Whilst anonymous sources have desperately tried to insinuate guilt, it is clear following a two-year gold-plated and robust investigation, Ms Sturgeon was neither charged, prosecuted nor convicted of any offence," said Aamer Anwar, Sturgeon's lawyer.
"Ms. Sturgeon is innocent of any crime and whilst that might be a source of annoyance for some, it remains a fact that it was Mr Murrell who was charged, tried, convicted and imprisoned for his crimes today," added Anwar.
Sturgeon served two terms as SNP First Minister of Scotland between 2014 and 2023 while Murrell ran the party.
She abruptly resigned as first minister and SNP leader in February 2023 and stood down as a Member of the Scottish Parliament in April.
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