A steal? Will you be able to buy Peter Murrell's embezzled items at auction?
Peter Murrell’s case will call at the High Court again for a Proceeds of Crime hearing - but what does that actually mean?
Purchases from a high-end cookware brand were among the red flags which alerted police to Peter Murrell’s long-running embezzlement of the SNP’s funds.
Murrell bought a number of items from Le Creuset using the party’s money, including a set of measuring spoons worth £43 and a set of mugs worth £204.
An £85 tea kettle from Le Creuset was also found in the now-famous motorhome which was purchased by Murrell and left at his mother’s house.
Detectives began looking into the SNP’s finances after a series of complaints in 2021, many of which concerned donations to a fund for fighting another Scottish independence referendum.
Operation Branchform, the name for the police and Crown Office investigation, moved beyond these initial complaints and began to look at potential embezzlement in early 2023.
As detectives examined the SNP’s books, they noticed the unusual purchases during periods when the party’s finances were low.
It is understood that the Le Creuset purchases stood out as one of the first retailers where Murrell had been spending the embezzled money, leading to further discoveries by the police.
Last month, Murrell admitted to embezzling £400,310.65 from the SNP between August 2010 and October 2022.
Court papers revealed a lengthy list of items he bought with the embezzled money, including: a space telescope, DVDs, a home library ladder worth more than £900 and a coffee machine worth nearly £3,232.
Two cars and the £124,550 motorhome were also among the purchases.
Many of his purchases appear to have been intended for upgrading the Uddingston home he shared with his now estranged wife Nicola Sturgeon.
Murrell repeatedly used SNP funds to buy fridge organisers, kitchen storage, and gardening equipment.
His spending included a premium Miele coffee machine, £608.98 on Eco Shape garden edging and £469.95 on a Karcher pressure washer.
He also spend £445 on a WiFi-enabled “smart” Google Nest Protect smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector which sends notifications to a phone if either are detected. He later bought two Google Nest “smart” thermostats in January 2020 at a cost of £196.98 each.
Murrell’s embezzlement continued after knowledge of the police investigation became public.
Police and prosecutors said they reviewed “extensive” evidence.
The Crown Office said: “Prosecutors considered 516 witness statements and a large volume of documentary and digital material, including data sources containing tens of thousands of files spanning an extended period.
“The SPR (standard prosecution report) contained a single charge of embezzlement, but within that charge there were hundreds of potentially criminal purchases.
“For each purchase, prosecutors required evidence that SNP funds had been used, documentation showing what had been bought, the retailer involved, and accounting material capable of showing how the purchase had been recorded within SNP finances.
“Further work was also required to establish the earliest criminal transactions and the full value of the embezzlement.
“That led prosecutors back beyond the original date range in the police report and ultimately to offending beginning in August 2010.”
Others in the SNP also alerted police to some of the items purchased by Murrell.
It is understood that Murray Foote, who replaced Murrell as chief executive, approached the police investigation with items he wished to make them aware of.
At the sentencing hearing, there was not much given by John Scullion KC in mitigation for Murrell’s 12 year embezzlement spree.
However, the lawyer did tell Judge Lord Young that his client is in a position to pay back the £400,310.65 in ill-gotten gains.
Crucially, the court heard after the judge asked for clarity, Murrell has enough money under his sole control to make the repayment.
The court can only recover property that legally belongs to the convicted person.
Decisions about recouping the stolen SNP funds will be taken at a Proceeds of Crime hearing scheduled for September 14 in Edinburgh.
It is a complex business and will not necessarily see Murrell pay back all £400,000.
At the hearing, it will be determined how much the former SNP chief executive obtained through his offending, what funds and assets he has available and, then, the amount he will have to pay back.
Calculations will be made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and be adjusted for inflation.
One of the big questions is - what will happen to the famous camper van?
It is possible that the vehicle will go to a police auction and be sold off.
This is true for the vast array of items Murrell purchased with embezzled SNP cash - any contraband found at his home or elsewhere may be auctioned.
That will only be decided once the case calls again at court.
Murrell has to lodge formal answers to the prosecution’s assessment of the financial benefit of his crimes by August 3.
They will then be back in court to argue the case on September 14 but the financial case may not be fully settled on that day.
In the meantime, Murrell’s assets are subject to a restraint order that prevents him transferring or disposing of any funds that might be needed later for a confiscation order.
Lord Young may decide on a confiscation order compelling Murrell to repay a set sum or a compensation order directing him to repay the SNP as victim of the theft.
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