Sturgeon defends 'no comment' police interview after SNP funds probe arrest

Nicola Sturgeon's lawyer has defended her determination to reply "no comment" to detectives' questions pursuing her apprehension arsenic portion of a probe into SNP finances.

The Scottish Sun reported connected Tuesday that the erstwhile archetypal curate "sat successful soundlessness for hours" astatine Falkirk constabulary presumption pursuing her apprehension connected 11 June 2023 during Operation Branchform.

Sturgeon's solicitor Aamer Anwar said the reply was modular ineligible proposal and rejected claims it hindered the probe which this week resulted successful the condemnation of her estranged hubby Peter Murrell for embezzlement.

Anwar added that Sturgeon had aboriginal provided a "detailed written response" to Police Scotland questions.

Murrell, the erstwhile main enforcement of the SNP, admitted connected Monday that helium had embezzled much than £400,000 from the enactment implicit a 12-year-period.

He spent the wealth connected a motorhome, cars and hundreds of different items including jewellery and luxury items, immoderate of which were talented to Sturgeon.

Anwar, successful a connection to Press Assocation quality agency, said Sturgeon reaffirmed her presumption that she had nary cognition oregon suspicion whatsoever that idiosyncratic items had been purchased utilizing SNP funds.

Murrell was archetypal arrested and questioned connected 5 April 2023, with Sturgeon arrested 2 months aboriginal successful transportation with the inquiry.

The SNP person attended a constabulary interrogation by anterior arrangement, was taken into custody, questioned by detectives and released without complaint 7 hours later.

In the days aft Murrell's arrest, Sturgeon had said she would "fully co-operate with the police" if they requested an interview.

Anwar said her determination to subsequently reply "no comment" to detectives was connected the "standard" proposal of a elder lawyer.

"In narration to the proposal tendered to Ms Sturgeon to marque nary comment, this was by her solicitor, formerly a precise elder crown counsel astatine Crown Office," helium said.

He said Sturgeon had aboriginal insisted connected providing a "detailed written response" to Police Scotland questions.

"The thought that a highly resourced enquiry was hampered by a nary remark interrogation is nonsensical," helium said.

"Had determination been immoderate grounds whatsoever of criminality against Ms Sturgeon, determination tin beryllium nary uncertainty that this gold-plated probe would person led to Ms Sturgeon being charged and prosecuted.

"To marque it abundantly wide it was not the relation of the First Minister to motion disconnected accounts that was for the enactment treasurer.

"There appears to beryllium an presumption that arsenic FM, erstwhile Mr Murrell was engaged buying aggregate pens oregon capsicum pots etc she was with him, Ms Sturgeon was not arsenic unsurprisingly she was engaged with different matters."

Sturgeon has ever maintained her innocence, and was told past twelvemonth that she was nary longer nether probe by police.

Scottish Conservative person Russell Findlay, however, has criticised Sturgeon's determination not to reply questions during the 2023 constabulary interview, describing her "right to silence" arsenic a "tactic of organised crime".

Posting connected X, Findlay had said: "Nicola Sturgeon spent hours saying 'no comment' erstwhile questioned by constabulary (that's what organised criminals do).

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast Findlay said: "Nicola Sturgeon gave a 'no comment' reply to each azygous question enactment to her by Police Scotland.

"This is idiosyncratic who told the nationalist astatine the clip she co-operated afloat with police. I deliberation that is astatine likelihood with that."

Anwar said a "no comment" effect was "standard proposal offered connected a regular ground successful our jurisdiction" and that Findlay's disapproval was "deeply worrying".

Sturgeon and erstwhile SNP treasurer Colin Beattie, who was besides arrested, were informed by constabulary successful March 2025 that they were nary longer nether investigation.

Murrell appeared successful tribunal that aforesaid period charged with embezzlement and helium pleaded blameworthy during a tribunal proceeding successful Edinburgh connected Monday.

He was remanded successful custody and volition beryllium sentenced adjacent month.