A former party leader in the Scottish Parliament said the decision to delay the trial of former SNP chief executive, Peter Murrell, “absolutely stinks”.
It was announced this week that the date for a preliminary hearing, due to take place this week, was being put back until May.
The former SNP boss, and estranged husband of former First Minister and ex-SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, is charged with embezzling SNP party funds.
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Douglas Ross, Conservative MSP and former party leader, challenged the Scottish Government on the decision in Holyrood.
He said: “This stinks, it absolutely stinks that an accusation that was first made before the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections won’t be heard until after the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.”
“The reporting restrictions cannot now be lifted until after the 2026 Holyrood elections. Will he at least accept that his party benefits from that?”
He had asked if “anyone who works for the Scottish Government, including ministers, special advisers or civil servants, was involved in discussions concerning the postponement of the trial of Peter Murrell until after the Scottish Parliament election in May”.
Graeme Day, minister for parliamentary business, said: “There have been no discussions. Scheduling of trials is a matter for the independent judiciary and the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.”
He added: “I utterly refute the allegations within that commentary from Douglas Ross, typical though it is of many subjects.
"Let me be absolutely clear, this is a live court case and therefore I would strongly suggest we should, all of us, be cautious about our comments in relation to it.”
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