The SNP's former treasurer was reportedly not arrested on the same day that Nicola Sturgeon's home was raided because he was on holiday in Italy.
Police officers investigating the party's finances went to Colin Beattie's home in Dalkeith on April 5 but he was in Tuscany during the Scottish Parliament's Easter recess.
The attempted arrest of Beattie was planned for the same day as that of Nicola Sturgeon's husband and former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell.