FORMER SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court following a charge of embezzlement.
He made no plea during a private hearing and has been bailed.
Murrell, the estranged husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, was charged in April of last year as part of an investigation into the SNP's funding and finances.
He was previously arrested as a suspect on April 5, 2023, before being released without charge.
A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said on Thursday: “Professional prosecutors from COPFS and independent counsel are dealing with this case without involving the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General. All Scotland's prosecutors operate independently of political influence."
The 60-year-old will return to court, but no date has been set.
On investigations into Sturgeon and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie, the COPFS spokesperson added: “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.
“Professional prosecutors from COPFS and independent counsel dealt with this without involving the Lord Advocate or Solicitor General. All Scotland's prosecutors operate independently of political influence.
“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.”
Operation Branchform has been ongoing since 2021 and is investigating what happened to around £600,000 raised by the party for a second independence referendum campaign.
Sturgeon and Beattie were arrested and questioned as part of the probe, but were both released without charge in 2023.
