NICOLA Sturgeon has been cleared of any wrongdoing after a police investigation into the SNP's finances.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said on Thursday that their probe into both the former first minister and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie had concluded without charges being brought.
"Following direction from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, criminal enquiries into two people arrested as part of the investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party have now concluded," the force said.
"The 73 year-old man arrested on 18 April, 2023, and the 54 year-old woman arrested on 11 June, 2023, have not been charged and are no longer under investigation."
It came almost immediately after news broke that Sturgeon's estranged husband Peter Murrell had appeared in Edinburgh Sheriff Court charged with embezzlement.
He made no plea and was bailed. Murrell will return to court, but no date has been set.
Operation Branchform began in 2021 and investigated what happened to around £600,000 raised by the party for a second independence referendum campaign.
Police said that they had concluded their investigations in statements given earlier this year, but the Crown Office continued its processes.
In a statement given after Murrell's appearance in court, a Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal spokesperson said: “A request from Police Scotland for advice and guidance in an investigation into a 73-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman has been responded to.
“The request was handled as part of a large-scale wider inquiry and without delay on the part of the prosecution service who recognise its significance."
“Where allegations are made against people or institutions in which the public have placed trust, it is the responsibility of the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to determine if there is evidence that criminal conduct has occurred.
“We understand public curiosity about this investigation. However, the Crown does not publicly share details of confidential inquiries where there are no proceedings in court.
"This protects the rights of the individuals concerned who are entitled to a presumption of innocence.”
Murrell was arrested and charged with embezzlement in April 2024.
Sturgeon announced that she had split from her former husband earlier this year.
