Kenny MacAskill is demanding an investigation into why the police had to wait two weeks for a search warrant. Credit: Simone Padovani/Awakening/Getty Images < p>Former Scottish Attorney General has demanded an investigation into why police investigating SNP finances had to wait two weeks before they were given permission to search Nicola Sturgeon's home.
Kenny MacAskill said the Scottish government should appoint a judge to examine whether «political considerations» were to blame for having officers wait for a search warrant.
It appears that the Crown's Office and Public Prosecution Service (COPFS) was informed on 20 March that the Scottish Police wanted to search the house where Ms Sturgeon lives with her husband Peter Murrell, a former SNP chief executive.
On At that point, there was still a week left in the intense contest for the SNP leadership to succeed Ms. Sturgeon, which resulted in career continuity candidate Humza Yousaf narrowly defeating Keith Forbes.
However, the search warrant application was only approved by the sheriff on April 3, a week after the end of the contest, when Yusaf had already been sworn in as First Minister.
Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC declined to say whether the warrant was «deliberately delayed» but the Tories argued the case raised «fundamental questions» about her dual role. Scottish government minister in office. Prosecutors said Ms Bain and her deputy, the Solicitor General, pleaded not involved.
Police raided Ms Sturgeon's home in the early hours of April 5 and conducted a two-day search during which several boxes were taken. Mr Murrell was arrested and later released without charge pending further investigation.
Officers also raided the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh and confiscated a luxurious motor home near the home of Mr Murrell's elderly mother in Dunfermline, Fife.
>'Questions of Extreme Importance'
Sources close to the investigation deny undue delay, but police insiders have told the Scottish Sun that «political ramifications» will be taken into account when conducting high-profile operations.
>< p>Mr MacAskill, who served as Attorney General for Scotland from 2007 to 2014 in the government of Alex Salmond SNP, said: «These are issues of the utmost importance and gravity, with enormous implications for the functioning of our legal system and our democracy.»
< p >“As Minister of Justice, I participated in the changes to speed up the process of issuing a warrant. Then the delays were associated with bureaucracy and IT systems. I never imagined that police investigations could be delayed due to political considerations.”
The Alba MP said a judge-led investigation is needed to «restore trust and confidence» in the Royal Office and reassure the public that politics is not behind the two-week wait.
This is a project. The police filed a search warrant that included a long list of items the police wanted to seize.
The document was finalized after discussion with the fiscal prosecutor and then signed by the sheriff the same day. However, senior justice system insiders wondered why this clarification process took so long.
Ms Bain did not respond to a question from Sky News whether the royal office was «deliberately» delaying the issuance of search warrants until the SNP was issued. struggle for leadership.
Russell Findlay, a Scottish Conservative MP, said: “There appears to be no evidence of any undue influence or interference in this process. However, the lack of answers to these questions only fuels public anxiety about making decisions behind closed doors.”
He added: «The whole macabre saga highlights the untenable dual role of the Lord Advocate, both head of the Prosecution Office and the most senior lawyer in the Scottish government with a seat at the cabinet table.»
«Very much. interesting discovery'
Jackie Bailey, leader of the Scottish Labor Party, said the two-week delay was «a very interesting discovery that will raise confusion throughout Scotland».
As of July 2021, the police in Scotland have been looking into, how the SNP disposed of over £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 that there were only £97,000 in the SNP bank despite the referendum never being held.
Officers also arrested Colin Beatty , who had previously been the party's longtime treasurer. Like Mr Murrell, he has been released without charge pending further investigation.
A COPFS spokesman said: “In all matters, the Scottish Public Prosecution Service acts independently of political pressure or interference. It is standard that any case involving politicians is handled by public prosecutors without the participation of the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General.
“COPFS understands the interest in this case, but to protect the fair administration of justice, we call for restraint. in public comment.»
A police spokesman for Scotland said: «As the investigation continues, we cannot comment further.»
The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.
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