Nicola Sturgeons ex admits embezzling £400k

[Viviennemary]

Just read this in the DM. I'm a bit shocked tbh. It's a lot of money. I wonder what he spent it on. There was a camper van mentioned ages ago but they don't cost that much. Honestly these folk.

If he goes on to admit that while it was only him doing the actual crime, his wife knew about it, she’s going to be charged with what?

Some sort of failing to report a crime charge?

I think the Scots term is being "art and part" to (of?) the offence.

Oh dear, how sad, never mind #Sadtimes

How can you be unaware of your spouse magically having an extra £400k and not asking any questions?

I looked this up. Apparently you become equally culpable with the person who committed the crime. I wonder if they could be charged with misconduct in public office same as our friend Mr Mountbatton Windsor might be.

I wonder what she’s paying him to take the fall?

We are cynical little oiks, aren't we! I had the same thought.

I also thought this - the hearing was delayed until after the election, so he’s basically become the SNP fall guy.

I’ll be interested to see if he gets a lenient sentence.

Can’t believe Nicola is getting off scot free - she’s up to her neck in this.

As someone else pointed out - she’ll find some way to blame Westminter for all this.

More like corruption to me. People now saying need to move on. Er no. I dont think total justice has been done.

Considering some of what was bought was cosmetics and jewellery maybe she was the recipient- and surely she'd know their income didn't stretch that far?
Not quite receiving stolen goods but benefiting knowingly from the profits of crime.
According to the news, a 6-figure sum was spent on Amazon alone, 2 cars, a motorhome, cosmetics and jewellery.

How did she never ask where the cash was coming from?

From the BBC live updates:

Before the hearing got under way the judge, Lord Young, approved a legal bid by BBC Scotland to obtain a full list of the items embezzled by Murrell.

The documents, which were released this morning, run to about 130 pages.

Our reporters are poring over them and we will bring you more details as we have them.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cddp5gm0155t

So far they've reported jewellery, cosmetics, two cars and a campervan.

I am not in Scotland (if that is relevant) it seems absolutely inconceivable that Nicola didn’t know about it

DM has the story behind their pay wall for some reason which is a bit annoying. They are doing this more and more recently, fine when it's silly puff articles but annoying when it's current news articles.

Anyway, there's no way Nicola didn't know what was going on and I will be amazed if she gets away with this completely.

I thought she was great during Covid when Johnson was floundering around. Now she's just going to be remembered for being married to/in cahoots with a dodgy fella who was ripping people off.

Joint earnings in the region of 200k p.a., the embezzled figure is 400k over 12 years, roughly 3k per month.

When I was still with my spouse I barely ever looked at our joint bank account, and I certainly wouldn't have batted an eyelid at Amazon purchases because those were a common occurrence anyway, and we had nothing like a 200k joint income.

There's a couple of threads on Scotsnet on this.

Meanwhile Nicola Sturgeon has issued a statement.

https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-says-she-was-misled-just-as-others-were-by-peter-murrell-8639512

"I am angry, hurt, sad and very distressed about the actions on family, friends and the SNP...

“To be deceived and let down by a husband I loved and trusted has caused me acute pain.
“Why he acted as he did is, and always will be, beyond my comprehension.
“To be clear: I had no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever that he was using SNP funds for personal purposes

“That I was fully cleared after a thorough investigation underlines that these are not my crimes. I was misled just as others were......

“I need to remain focussed on recovering from that and building a new phase of life.

“I will be making no further comment".

And also posted this on social media this morning

https://nitter.net/pic/orig/media%2FHJKK3xLWUAA1niQ.jpg

Living her best life obvs.

"Not my crimes". I've heard that phrase before somewhere

£400,000

But he bought a motorhome for £125K and before than a new VW Golf for £33K.

Even with appalling maths skills, a spouse should ask how a motorhome for £125K was being funded.

If you copy the link and put it into the search achive box on archive.ph then you can read it.

I don't (currently) understand how they've come up with this list or how they are saying he took the funds. It's got £2.50 hand creams on it. It's just weird.

And a £4k fountain pen!

Oh just reading about the motorhome: "The indictment alleges Murrell created false documents to disguise the purchase as a legitimate party expense." (BBC).

So is this like the MP expenses scandal where people "expensed" private spending to top up their salaries? I seem to recall some of them went to prison, possibly for falsifying documents too, but I'd have to check.

IIRC this was during Covid, and the story was that the motorhome was purchased on behalf of the SNP so that campaigning could continue in a limited way without contravening Covid restrictions.

The cars, I believe there was also a Jaguar at some point later traded-in, would obviously at least prompt discussions between most couples, but again, if you have a joint income of 200k or thereabouts, I don't think the purchase of a vehicle is, in isolation, the sort of thing that is going to prompt one spouse to suspect the other must somehow be obtaining funds illegally. Owning/buying cars is a pretty common and typical expense for people earning that sort of salary.

She says she didn’t and she has been found guilty of nothing. But of course court of public opinion mumsnetters will know better.

Should somebody so easily misled be in charge of running a country. I suggest they should not. I say BS.

Well our soon to be leader, if the Daily Mail is anything to go by, Nigel Farage has said his phone was hacked by Russian agents. He's got £5million in his bank account as a donation and the reason for that donation changes daily.

Agreed! If my Dh had embezzled £400k and invested it in the stock market then it’s believable that I could be unaware, but when the money has been used to purchase a camper van etc where did she think this money suddenly appeared from?