Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon remains under investigation after initially being arrested by police, alongside former party treasurer Colin Beattie, in June 2023.
The pair were released pending further inquiries, however, former SNP chief executive, and husband of Ms Sturgeon, was charged with embezzlement in April 2024.
READ MORE:
Operation Branchform: The SNP probe approaches fourth year
Reports Alex Salmond ‘assisted Operation Branchform’ detectives
SNP 2024: Branchform twist, rout and post election boost
Nicola Sturgeon gives update on SNP Operation Branchform
In Holyrood on Wednesday, the Justice Secretary Angela Constance was asked whether she or other government officials knew who the investigating officers were and whether procedures were in place to ensure ministers did not meet with these officers by accident.
Ms Constance said she would not comment the police investigation was live.
Scottish Tory MSP Craig Hoy described the Justice Secretary’s response as a “non-answer”.
Mr Hoy said the response “strongly suggests the Government may well be aware of those facts”.
He added: “So can the minister explain why revealing the specific date when officers’ identities could have become known would risk prejudicing the police probe, and if the Government has nothing to hide, why would it not confirm how they may have secured the identities of the investigating officers, if indeed it is in receipt of them?”
READ MORE:
John Swinney won’t reject Donald Trump meeting if he visits Scotland
Swinney says sorry to island communities over CalMac delays
MSPs were warned by deputy presiding officer Anabelle Ewing that the case is live and subject to contempt of court legislation.
Ms Constance then replied: “Presiding Officer, with respect to both yourself and the chamber, as the member is well aware, as Justice Secretary, I do not comment and I am not involved in live cases and I have nothing further to add.”
Mr Hoy later said: “The public are none the wiser about what the SNP government are aware of in relation to their knowledge of officers who are specifically working on Operation Branchform.
“Angela Constance’s non-answer follows her party’s refusal to answer this question in an FOI request which will only make the public wonder what the SNP have to hide. Why can’t they simply say whether they know the identities of the officers involved or not?”
In August, Police Scotland provided its full findings of the investigation so far to the Crown and Procurator Fiscal Service.
Later, Chief Constable Jo Farrell confirmed the force was yet to hear back from prosecutors, adding officers were “still awaiting direction”.
In December, Ms Sturgeon told the PA news agency that she knew “nothing more” about the ongoing police probe than she did when she was arrested.
The former first minister said she was getting on with her life “as best as I can at the moment”.
She has maintained her innocence throughout the police probe, stating: “I am certain I have done nothing wrong.”
Operation Branchform first launched in 2021 and has cost around £1.8 million so far.