THE SNP's treasurer Colin Beattie has been released without charge following his arrest by police on Tuesday morning.
Beattie, the MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, was being interviewed by police in relation to their investigation into the SNP's finances.
However, shortly after 8 o'clock on Tuesday evening Police Scotland released the following statement:
"A 71-year-old man who was arrested earlier today, Tuesday, 18 April 2023, as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party, has been released without charge pending further investigation.
"The man was questioned by Police Scotland detectives.
"A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
"The matter remains active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and the public are therefore advised to exercise caution if discussing it on social media.
"As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further."
It comes after the arrest of former SNP chief executive and Nicola Sturgeon's husband, Peter Murrell, on April 5.
He, too, was released without charge pending further investigation following hours of being interviewed by the police.
The arrests were made as part of Operation Branchform - an investigation over whether more than £600,000 of fundraised money set aside for an independence campaign during a second referendum was used by the SNP for other activities.
The SNP has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
