Police release detained ex-Scotland leader Sturgeon

Police release former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon without charge informs Sky News TV channel, citing a law enforcement statement. Sturgeon was detained on June 11 as a suspect in connection with an investigation into the financing of the Scottish National Party (SNP).

“A 52-year-old woman arrested earlier today on suspicion in connection with an ongoing investigation into Scottish National Party funding has been released without charge pending further investigation,” police said in a statement.

Sturgeon was released from custody seven hours after his arrest, according to the report.

Earlier, Sky News confirmed the presence of the politician during the interrogation and, citing her representative, said that Sturgeon was interrogated “by agreement with the police.”

The SNP funding investigation began in the summer of 2021. Prosecutors turned their attention to the party’s activities after reports of illegal use of funds. In particular, the prosecutor’s office found out what the 600,000 pounds sterling (over 680,000 euros) collected for the new referendum on independence from Great Britain were spent on, since it never took place.

On April 5, Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell was detained. He previously served as executive director of the SNP, but in March, like his wife, he resigned. He was released without charge. Sturgeon was the leader of the SNP from 2014 to 2023. She left the party at the same time as she stepped down as the country’s first minister.