Police Scotland are looking into the SNP's handling of over £600,000 in donations raised in 2017. Peter Murrell, husband of Nicola Sturgeon, was the party's chief executive at the time. Photo: Andrew Milligan/PA. mobile phone sim cards and verification of party purchases, including a refrigerator freezer, were reported before Humza Yusaf's first meeting with Rishi Sunak.
Detectives were believed to be looking for information from sim cards, including any text messages and voice recordings.
The so-called "burner" phones are cheap, pre-paid devices that users can throw away or destroy when no longer needed if they want to maintain privacy. Their SIM cards can be deleted while keeping the data.
In addition, officers are reportedly vetting the SNP's purchase of luxury pens, designer pots and pans, jewelry, and even a refrigerator-freezer. .
Scottish police had earlier confiscated a luxury motorhome near the home of 92-year-old mother-in-law Nicola Sturgeon in Dunfermline, Fife.
Events predate Mr Yousaf. Monday will be his first visit to London as First Minister, during which he will meet with the Prime Minister.
The new SNP leader is also expected to hold talks with London Mayor Sadiq Khan and ambassadors to the UK, including from Germany and Ukraine.
However, his visit risks being overshadowed by a police investigation into his party. Since July 2021 law enforcement has been checking how the SNP disposed of more than £600,000 in donations raised in 2017 for a second independence referendum.
Complaints were filed by supporters when reports filed with Companies House in 2020 showed there was only £97,000 SNP in the bank, despite the referendum never being held
Peter Murrell, husband of Mr. Ms. Sturgeon, the SNP's chief executive for more than two decades before resigning last month, was arrested on April 5, and the house he shares with her was raided by police.
Colin Beatty, who was party treasurer during most of Mr. Marrell's tenure, was arrested last week and resigned. Both men have been released without charge pending further investigation.
The three registered SNP officers listed on the cover of her most recent reports submitted to the Board of Elections were Mr. Murrell, Mr. Beatty, and Ms. Sturgeon, prompting speculation that she might be next arrested. However, it is known that she was not interrogated.
First Minister Humza Yousaf previously admitted seeing a list of items that the police either confiscated or wanted to trace during the investigation.
A source with knowledge of the investigation told the Sunday Mail: «The police are looking for SIM cards used in unregistered mobile phones. They want to know the numbers associated with these cards, which may also contain dialed numbers and text messages.
“It's not uncommon for people to have unregistered mobile sim cards that you can buy at any store, there's nothing wrong with having a so-called disposable phone, but the police want these phones to be registered with the SNP.”
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Another insider said: «There is an extensive list of items of interest to the police that will probably surprise some people.»
«Mostly expensive goods — expensive pens, pots and pans, jewelry, and Also a fridge freezer. This is a very extensive investigation, and it is clear that not a single stone will be left without attention.”
Keith Brown, deputy leader of the SNP, declined to comment on a report on SIM cards and disposable phone purchases when asked about them on the Sunday BBC Scotland show.
He said: «I don't know who such «cops from the SNP». or 'SNP scammers'. I don't know who these people are talking about.
«And I'm not going to refer to the current live police investigation, and I'm very surprised at the extent to which this is being discussed, because it could affect the outcome of this investigation.»
But Craig Hoy, chairman of the Scottish Conservatives, said: "This latest whimsical twist only adds to the stench of secrecy surrounding the SNP's financial scandal.
«It is imperative that the SNP fully cooperate with the police investigation and give the public the answers they deserve to questions that remain unanswered.» /p>
He reiterated his call for Mr. Yusaf to suspend the use of SNP data related to the investigation, including Ms. Sturgeon. The First Minister refused, saying they were innocent until proven guilty.
Jackie Bailey, Scottish Labor Deputy Leader, said: “These details raise deeply disturbing questions about the practices underlying the SNP. "
Police Scotland declined to comment, while an SNP spokesperson said "We have no comment on the live police investigation"
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