Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party, is facing allegations of embezzling £459,000 from the party over a 12-year period.

An indictment document obtained by BBC News outlines the case against Murrell, who is the estranged husband of former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The alleged embezzlement is said to have occurred between August 2010 and January 2023, according to the indictment.

It is claimed that Murrell used party funds to purchase luxury items, including jewellery, cosmetics, and vehicles, such as two cars and a motorhome.

The Scottish Sun was the first to report on the details of the indictment.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled to take place at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday, 20 February, where Murrell is expected to appear.

During his initial court appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Murrell made no plea and was subsequently granted bail.

Murrell's arrest in 2023 was part of Operation Branchform, a police investigation into the SNP's funding and finances, which led to him being charged with embezzlement in April 2024.

Although Sturgeon was questioned by police as part of the investigation, she is no longer considered a suspect.

BBC News has obtained a copy of the indictment against Murrell ahead of his upcoming court appearance.

It is worth noting that the indictment is subject to change until the case is heard in court and may be amended throughout the judicial process.

The indictment alleges that Murrell purchased a £124,550 motorhome for personal use and created false documents to justify the expense as a legitimate party expenditure.

Murrell is also accused of using £57,500 of party funds to buy a Jaguar I-PACE car in 2019, and falsifying an invoice to conceal the true nature of the purchase.

Furthermore, it is alleged that when the Jaguar was sold in 2021, Murrell deposited more than £47,000 into his personal bank account.

The indictment also claims that Murrell embezzled £16,489 from the SNP to partially fund the purchase of a Volkswagen Golf in 2016.

A list of over 80 retailers is included in the indictment, where Murrell allegedly made purchases totalling more than £159,000 between 2014 and 2022, using party credit or charge cards for personal expenses.

The retailers named in the indictment include Harrods, the Royal Mint, John Lewis, Homebase, and Argos, among others.

It is alleged that Murrell used SNP credit or charge cards to make these purchases and then inserted false or inaccurate accounting codes and descriptions into the party's accounting systems.

The indictment also accuses Murrell of making purchases worth over £81,600 through Amazon using the same method.

Murrell served as the SNP's chief executive for 22 years before his departure.

Murrell and Sturgeon were married in 2010, but announced their separation in January 2025, after being together for many years.

The recent release of the Epstein files has prompted a re-examination of statements made by Prince Andrew during a 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, which may now be subject to renewed scrutiny.

A review of the interview by BBC journalists Sean Coughlan and Sarah Campbell has been conducted, comparing Prince Andrew's responses with emails allegedly exchanged by the prince, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is under increasing pressure from US authorities and the family of Virginia Giuffre, who has made prominent allegations against him, to provide testimony in the US regarding his connection to Jeffrey Epstein.

Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted financier, was found guilty in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor and took his own life in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges.

A driver is facing a substantial bill of £20,000 due to unpaid tolls, which appears to be the result of an administrative error.

Merseyflow, the operator of the Runcorn-Widnes crossing, has emphasized the importance of notifying them of any changes to the vehicle registered under their discount scheme to avoid potential issues.

Residents in the area are eligible for free crossings through the Local User Discount Scheme, but it is crucial that they maintain up-to-date records to continue receiving this benefit.

A recent incident involved a local driver who allegedly failed to provide necessary documentation to confirm eligibility for the scheme after purchasing a new vehicle.

The driver accumulated penalty charges from December 2023, when the pass expired, to November 2024, resulting in significant fines.

According to Merseyflow, the driver changed vehicles in June 2024 but did not provide proof of eligibility at that time.

It was not until nine months later that the driver submitted the required documentation, leading to the reinstatement of the free pass, as stated by the company.

However, the outstanding fines, which have been referred to a debt collection agency, reportedly cover both the current vehicle and another that the driver claims to have sold in 2021.

In an interview with the BBC, the driver expressed feelings of stress, stating that they had taken the necessary steps but were still facing difficulties.

A Merseyflow spokesperson highlighted the importance of notifying the DVLA immediately in the event of a vehicle sale, transfer, or part-exchange to avoid liability for taxes or fines, emphasizing that failure to do so can result in a fine of up to £1,000.

The spokesperson further explained that the use of an enforcement agent is typically a last resort for unresolved penalty charge notices.

According to the company, cases that progress to the advanced enforcement stage, involving a visit from an enforcement agent, will have had multiple opportunities to settle the debt and received at least five written notifications.

The spokesperson advised individuals who receive a PCN to take prompt action, as ignoring the issue can lead to significant increases in the debt once it is passed on to an enforcement agent.

The company's message to those who receive a PCN is to address the issue promptly to avoid further complications and increased costs.

In 2025, the Mersey Gateway and the nearby Silver Jubilee Bridge saw over 27 million crossings, with approximately 84,000 vehicles using these bridges daily.