Nicola Sturgeon made her first public appearance since her husband's arrest on Saturday. Photo: Jane Barlow
Police reportedly seized a luxury motorhome at the home of Nicola Sturgeon's mother-in-law on the same morning they raided the home of the former First Minister.
Officers confiscated the car from Margaret Murrell's home , the 92-year-old mother of Peter Murrell, Wednesday morning. She lives on a private estate in Dunfermline, Fife.
Niesmann Seizure + The Bischoff RV happened at 9am, shortly after police began searching Ms. Sturgeon and Mr. Murrell's home in Glasgow, 50 miles away.
Neighbors said that this is an elite motor home of similar models. of which can be sold for around £110,000, they were originally delivered to the address by two men in January 2021 and have not been moved since.
Mr Murrell, former SNP chief executive and husband of Mr Ms. Sturgeon, was arrested on Wednesday by police investigating some £600,000 of spending that was earmarked for the campaign for Scottish independence.
Police have located the crime scene near the home of former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Photo: Jeff J. Mitchell
The same day he was released without charge for further investigation. Scottish police officers ransacked the couple's home for two days and also ransacked the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh.
A mansion in Glasgow has been viewed as a potential crime scene, cordoned off with police tape, and a large tent has been set up in the front garden. Officers were seen searching trash cans and inspecting barbecues in the back garden. SNP President Mike Russell called the ongoing investigation the party's biggest crisis in 50 years. On Saturday, Ms Sturgeon spoke publicly to reporters outside her home for the first time since her husband's arrest.
In a brief statement, she said the past few days had been «clearly difficult». and that she would «cooperate fully»; with a police investigation.
Car ' Loaded into the back of a huge truck'
Neighbor Margaret Murrell told the Scottish Mail on Sunday about two unmarked police cars, one silver SUV and one graphite-colored estate, pulled over outside her bungalow last Wednesday and had the RV cleaned.
The marked police car was parked further down the road when the police moved the vehicle, weighing more than three tons, onto the back of a tow truck
One witness told the newspaper: "It happened at about 9 am, which is about the same time they started searching Peter's house, I think. They didn't go into the house because Margaret was already quite old and they didn't want to disturb her.
“At first they couldn't get into the motorhome because it was locked and there were clamps on it, so they I had to get the keys from somewhere. They left, but returned and managed to open it. Then they loaded it into the back of a huge truck and, after a little work with the fasteners, they took it away."
The camper was an iSmove model, the latest version of which includes felt walls "for delightfully soothing acoustics", an expandable kitchen, electric shelves, decorative lighting and "disappearing" shower.
The investigation 'becomes more surreal every day'
Craig Hoy, chairman of the Scottish Conservatives, said: «The investigation into the dark finances of the SNP is getting more surreal every day.» The sight of a luxury motorhome being hijacked would be almost comical if the problem weren't so serious.
«Senior party figures, including Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon, must confess what they knew and when they were connected party finances."
Craig Hoy, chairman of the Scottish Conservatives, said senior party officials «should confess in everything.» about party finances. Photo: Ken Jack.
Since July 2021, the Scottish Police have been looking into the SNP's use of over £600,000 in donations raised in 2017 for a second independence referendum.
The second referendum never took place and some donors demanded their money back, stating they were told the money would be earmarked for the referendum campaign.
It was later revealed that in June 2021 Mr Murrell had made a personal loan of £107,620 to the party to «help with cash flow ”, which is now also considered part of the investigation.
Last month it became known that the police were investigating transactions for large sums, including the purchase of cars.
Police Scotland said that the investigation is ongoing , and declined to confirm or deny the connection to the motorhome hijacking.
An SNP spokesperson stated: " It would be inappropriate to comment on any direct police investigation.
"The SNP is fully cooperating with this investigation and will continue to do so"
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