LONDON, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Peter Murrell, husband of Scotland's former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has been arrested by Scottish police in connection with an investigation into the finances and fundraising of the Scottish National Party (SNP), the British press reported on Wednesday.
Police Scotland said in a statement that a 58-year-old man, identity not revealed, was arrested on Wednesday as a suspect and is being questioned by police detectives in connection with the ongoing investigation into the ruling party.
British media said the man, understood to be Murrell, was arrested at Nicola Sturgeon's house, in front of which a police vehicle and some officers were seen.
In 2021, Police Scotland launched a fraud probe into the SNP's handling of some 600,000 British pounds (748,000 U.S. dollars) raised by the party in 2017 for Scottish independence campaigning and a second independence referendum.
It was alleged that the ring-fenced fund was not used for its initial purpose, which led to the resignation of several senior members from the SNP citing a lack of financial transparency.
The investigation also involves Murrell's personal loan to the SNP of more than 100,000 British pounds.
Murrell resigned from his post last month. He married Sturgeon in 2010. Sturgeon was Scotland's longest-serving leader and former chief of the SNP.
After the news broke, Humza Yousaf, the new Scottish first minister and SNP leader, said it was a "difficult day" for the party but refused to comment on the live police investigation.
Officers are also carrying out searches at a number of addresses as part of the investigation and a report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, according to Scottish police. (1 British pound =1.25 U.S. dollars) ■
