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Police investigating SNP finances examining high value transactions including vehicle purchases

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Police investigating fraud allegations at the SNP are probing high value transactions including vehicle purchases made by the party.Senior figures have been quizzed by detectives about items of spending and also gifts dating back to 2018 as part of the investigation codenamed Operation Branchform.Crown prosecutors are now directing the probe which was triggered by at least 19 criminal complaints that £600,000 of donations to a “ring-fenced” referendum fund had been misappropriated.We revealed how former treasurer Douglas Chapman was spoken to as a witness by officers in the days before Nicola Sturgeon announced her shock resignation.She and her husband - former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell - say they have yet to be interviewed.A source said: “Police are particularly interested in vehicle purchases and other items of capital expenditure.“Some of the people spoken to have been surprised to find questioning focussed on this rather than donations.”The last accounts filed for the party show a £80,632 “tangible asset” of “motor vehicles”.An SNP spokesman last night declined to comment on vehicles owned by the party.He said: “We will cooperate fully with the police investigation and will make no further comment.”Murrell resigned earlier this month after taking responsibility for lies told to the Sunday Mail over membership figures, plunging his party into crisis amid a leadership battle.The SNP’s communications chief also resigned after our exclusive revealing 30,000 members had left were flatly - despite being 100per cent true.The Police Scotland fraud probe centres on £600,000 of funds raised in 2017 and 2019 which were to be “ring-fenced” for a referendum campaign.However the SNP’s accounts showed less than £100,000 in

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