Police Scotland has asked prosecutors for direction into the next steps of the SNP finances investigation which involves former first minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Officers have sent an updated “advice and guidance” report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), it is understood.
The Crown Office has said the report relates to former party chief executive Peter Murrell, who was arrested and charged in connection with alleged embezzlement of party funds.
Former first minister Ms Sturgeon and the party’s then treasurer Colin Beattie were both arrested and released without charge in 2023.
Mr Murrell, who married Ms Sturgeon in 2010, was initially arrested last year, before being rearrested and charged on April 18 2024.
In the first arrest, Police Scotland searched the couple’s home and erected a blue tent outside the property, while also carrying out searches of the SNP’s Edinburgh headquarters.
The police probe, known as Operation Branchform was launched in 2021 to investigate how £666,953 of crowdfunding donations was spent by the party.
Mr Sturgeon and Mr Beattie have not been charged and Police Scotland’s Chief Constable Jo Farrell confirmed last month the pair were still under investigation.
Police Scotland have now released an updated statement, which said: “On August 9 2024, we presented the findings of the investigation so far to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and we await their direction on what further action should be taken.”
A earlier report was sent to prosecutors in May following Mr Murrell's arrest.
The COPFS said the matters were “still under investigation”, and reiterated the statement given in May, which said: “A standard procuration report has been received by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service from Police Scotland in relation to a 59-year-old man and incidents said to have occurred between 2016 and 2023.
“Connected investigations of the two other individuals, a man aged 72 and a 53-year-old woman, remain ongoing.
“Professional prosecutors from COPFS and independent counsel will review this report. They will make decisions on the next steps without involving the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General. All Scotland's prosecutors operate independently of political influence.”
Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly told journalists she had done nothing wrong.
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