Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP), was sentenced to five years and three months in prison on Tuesday after pleading guilty to embezzling over £400,000 (€465,000) from party coffers between 2010 and 2023.

Murrell, 61, used the funds to purchase a motorhome, cars (Volkswagen and Jaguar), and luxury goods from brands such as Estée Lauder, Harrods, and Le Creuset. He was the husband of then-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who resigned abruptly in 2023 amid the financial probe.

Judge Andrew Young told Murrell: "Your actions involved a significant breach of trust... This was a calculated crime of dishonesty." He emphasized the sentence was intended as a deterrent to other senior officials.

Sturgeon, who was arrested but later cleared of any wrongdoing, issued a statement through her lawyer insisting she was "utterly deceived and let down by her husband." However, questions linger over her claims of ignorance regarding the motorhome and other purchases.

Murrell's lawyer said he had been ostracized and lived in "almost total isolation." Authorities will now seek to recover the embezzled funds through proceeds of crime proceedings.

The scandal has embarrassed the SNP, which remains dominant in Scottish politics despite the controversy.

Source: www.dw.com