HUMZA Yousaf was informed of the arrests of Peter Murrell and Colin Beattie after they took place, emails show.
Responding to a Freedom of Information request, the Scottish Government released emails relating to the investigation into the SNPs finances on Thursday morning.
The investigation – dubbed Operation Branchform – started in 2021.
In an email sent by the permanent secretary John-Paul Marks to Humza Yousaf at 9.20am on Wednesday, April 5, it shows the First Minister was notified of former SNP chief executive Murrell’s arrest 25 minutes after it happened.
The email reveals the permanent secretary John-Paul Marks was contacted by Police Scotland’s chief constable Iain Livingstone at 8am on Wednesday, April 5 and notified that Murrell had been taken into custody.
Officers had arrested Murrell about 25 minutes earlier and Police Scotland announced the arrest at 9.30am in a statement.
Marks wrote: "The Chief Constable (CC) contacted me at 8am this morning to update on Operation Branchform.
"Following agreement with the Crown Office, PS have arrested a suspect and taken him into custody to be interviewed under caution.
"I informed you after the event and after this PS action had occurred as is routine, with the explicit permission of the CC.
"In terms of any and all liaison from SG (Scottish government) Ministers or senior SG officials on Operation Branchform, I have agreed with the CC that this should be via me only without exception.”
Another email was released sent by Marks to Yousaf, this one shortly after the arrest of then-SNP treasurer Colin Beattie on Tuesday, April 18.
Marks repeated he had notified Yousaf of the arrest after it had happened on the advice of the chief constable.
The email was sent at 9.02am, minutes after Beattie’s arrest had also been made public.
Both Murrell and Beattie were released without charge pending further investigation.
Nicola Sturgeon was also released after attending an interview by arrangement with Police Scotland, where she was arrested and questioned in relation to Operation Branchform.
