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Former Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested following investigations into the funding of the Scottish National Party. Sturgeon, who previously led this party, is currently being interrogated from the detention facilities.
" A 52-year-old woman was arrested today, Sunday, June 11, 2023, as a suspect in connection with the investigation into the financing and finances of the PKS ," the police announced.
According to officials, the former prime minister has declared that she is ready to cooperate with justice.
" Nicola Sturgeon today, Sunday 11 June, by agreement with Police Scotland, attended an interview where she was to be arrested and questioned in connection with Operation Branchform. Nicola has repeatedly said she would cooperate with the investigation if asked and continues to do so ," her spokesperson said.
While her SNP party has not commented on the arrest of the former prime minister on Sunday.
" These matters are subject to a direct police investigation. The SNP has co-operated fully with this investigation and will continue to do so, however it is not appropriate to address any matter publicly while that investigation is ongoing ," a party spokesman said.
Earlier, her husband, former party chief executive Peter Murrell, was arrested on the same charge, but was later released after the charges against him were not proven.
Nicola Sturgeon served as First Minister of Scotland for eight years. Her shock resignation came on February 15 when she said she knew "in my head and in my heart" that this was the right time to step down.
She is the longest-serving prime minister and was the first woman to hold the post.
Ms Sturgeon insisted her resignation was not in response to the "recent period of pressure", which has included controversies over gender reform, trans prisoners and the independence strategy.
However, within a month of her last day on March 28, the investigation into the SNP's finances, which began almost two years ago, came to light.
Complaints were made about more than £600,000 donated to the SNP by campaigners.
The money was raised as the party sought to raise funds for an upcoming referendum campaign and Police Scotland launched Operation Branchform to investigate what happened to it.
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