DETECTIVES have not reported any cases for prosecution over the high-profile investigation into the SNP’s finances.
Operation Branchform has been investigating complaints about how £600,000 has gone “missing” from party coffers.
Over the course of the investigation, Nicola Sturgeon (below), her husband Peter Murrell and Colin Beattie have all been arrested and released without charge.
After her release, the former FM issued a statement in which she said she knew "beyond doubt" that she is innocent.
The Daily Record reports that it asked the Crown Office if they had received the final report on Operation Branchform.
A spokesperson told the newspaper: “The police haven’t reported any Branchform cases to COPFS for consideration of prosecution.”
We previously revealed how the total cost of the probe into the SNP’s finances exceeds the allegedly missing amount.
In a recent interview, Police Scotland’s outgoing chief constable Iain Livingstone said the investigation had widened.
He said: “It’s moved beyond what some of the initial reports were. That’s not uncommon in investigations such as this.”
He explained that the force would not put an “absolute timeframe” on the length of the investigation but that it would be “proportionate” and “timeous”.
Livingstone (below) added: “Investigations into the finance of an organisation, the finances of individuals, are often complex.
“Investigations around fraud or investigations around potential embezzlement or investigations around the misuse of funds take time.”
Earlier this week, First Minister Humza Yousaf was asked if he was worried there would be any charges in relation to the case.
He said: “I’m not going to comment on a live police investigation.”
