Nicola Sturgeon: High prosecutor refuses to say if search of former first minister’s house was ‘intentionally delayed’ till after she left workplace
The head of Scotland’s prosecution service has refused to say whether or not a search warrant for Nicola’s Sturgeon’s house was “deliberately delayed” till after the SNP management contest ended.
Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC, who leads the Crown Office, was questioned by Sky News after it emerged her organisation was made conscious of a police request to raid the previous first minister’s house two weeks earlier than it was given the inexperienced gentle.
The SNP‘s headquarters in Edinburgh was additionally raided by detectives.
According to a Freedom of Information request first revealed in The Sun newspaper, Police Scotland requested prosecutors to log off the warrants on 20 March – which was one week earlier than Humza Yousaf grew to become SNP chief.
The go-ahead was not formally given till 3 April.
Search on Sturgeon’s house ends
The Lord Advocate is probably the most senior legislation officer in Scotland and sits within the Scottish authorities cupboard as chief authorized adviser.
Sky News approached Ms Bain as she departed Tuesday morning’s cupboard with First Minister Humza Yousaf.
She didn’t reply when requested if the Crown Office “deliberately” delayed issuing warrants till after the SNP contest and entered her automotive when requested if she personally was conscious of developments within the case.
Sky News’ Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies approaching Dorothy Bain in Edinburgh
The Crown Office mentioned it acquired a “draft warrant” earlier than it was “finalised” on 3 April.
A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service mentioned: “In all matters, Scotland’s prosecutors act independently of political pressure or interference.
“It is normal that any case relating to politicians is handled by prosecutors with out the involvement of the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General.
“COPFS understand the interest in this case but to protect the fair administration of justice we urge restraint in public comment.”
I had ‘no prior data’ of raid
‘Revelation will elevate eyebrows throughout Scotland’
Scottish Conservative MSP Russell Findlay mentioned: “There appears to be no evidence of any undue influence or interference in this process.
“However, the shortage of solutions to those questions solely serves to gas public considerations concerning the decision-making going down behind closed doorways.
“The whole murky saga brings into sharp focus the untenable dual role of the Lord Advocate, both as head of the prosecution service and the Scottish government’s most senior lawyer with a place at the cabinet table.”
Scottish Labour deputy chief Jackie Baillie mentioned: “This is a very interesting revelation that will lead to raised eyebrows across Scotland.
“Whilst I settle for that the Lord Advocate could not have had a direct affect on the timing, this story underlines why we have to have a critical dialogue in Scotland about separating the position of the Lord Advocate to make sure that there isn’t a notion of battle of curiosity can ever happen.”
Ms Sturgeon’s husband, Peter Murrell, former chief govt of the SNP
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Who is at the centre of the police probe into the SNP?
Long-standing SNP chief executive Peter Murrell was arrested and later launched with out cost pending additional investigations amid the probe.
A £100,000 luxury motorhome was faraway from the house of Mr Murrell’s aged mom in Fife.
SNP stalwart Colin Beattie quit as party treasurer hours after he was arrested and launched as a part of the identical investigation.
Police Scotland say the probe, dubbed Operation Branchform, continues.