We now know how Peter Murrell embezzled from the SNP - but not why

Prosecutors person fixed much details astir however Peter Murrell embezzled goods worthy much than £400,000 utilizing the SNP's money.

What stands retired from the communicative is the persistence, cynicism and devious tactics utilized by the antheral who was the party's main enforcement for much than 2 decades.

The Crown revealed however helium utilized his privileged entree to the SNP's accounting strategy to feather his ain nest successful a full scope of ways - with recognition cards, SNP complaint cards and nonstop transfers of money.

That whitethorn spell immoderate mode towards explaining however the SNP's auditors, enactment officials and his estranged woman Nicola Sturgeon seemingly failed to spot his transgression activities implicit galore years.

He enactment mendacious information into the strategy and claimed embezzled funds were for humdrum enactment purposes.

This was capable to fool capable people, for capable of the time, to get distant with much than £400,000.

So present we cognize however helium did it - but we inactive don't truly recognize why.

He's yet to accidental - and the Crown communicative sheds nary airy connected that.

Perhaps he'll connection immoderate mentation to the tribunal earlier he's sentenced connected 23 June.

Murrell is apt to person a hefty situation sentence, which raises the question of wherever helium is apt to service it.

Scotland has nary low-security prisons for white-collar criminals.

In England, a 61-year-old archetypal offender convicted of embezzlement would astir surely spell to an unfastened situation - but that enactment does not beryllium successful Scotland.

That means Murrell volition service his clip successful a mainstream jailhouse alongside murderers, cause dealers and convulsive offenders.

Which situation mightiness Murrell beryllium sent to?

One apt enactment is HMP Dumfries successful the southbound of Scotland.

It tin clasp up to 135 semipermanent and short-term men who request to beryllium separated from mainstream prisoners due to the fact that of the quality of their offence - termed "offence-related extortion prisoners".

Former constabulary officers and ex-prison unit person spent clip successful the cells astatine Dumfries.

The conditions are notably amended than the alternatives.

The main inspector of prisons described it arsenic "a harmless prison, if not the safest successful Scotland," praising the "mutual respect" betwixt unit and inmates.

The gathering is Victorian and conditions are basic, but for a high-profile captive who needs separation from the wide colonisation and a safe, unchangeable environment, Dumfries is the evident fit.

Another enactment is Castle Huntly, the unfastened situation adjacent Dundee, arsenic it houses low-risk non-violent prisoners.

Murrell can't beryllium sent determination initially - it's a progression prison, not a archetypal destination aft sentencing.

But if he's classified arsenic low-risk and well-behaved, helium could perchance beryllium transferred determination for the last agelong of his sentence.

Murrell is besides acceptable to look ineligible enactment to retrieve the wealth helium embezzled.

Prosecutors are apt to service announcement connected him done proceeds of transgression legislation.

The justice would past marque a confiscation order, requiring outgo to the state.

The instrumentality doesn't let the Crown to confiscate spot oregon assets straight - it's an bid for payment.

Normally the courts assistance six months to pay.

Murrell whitethorn person to merchantability his stock of the household location and excavation into savings and pensions to wage this debt.

Failure to wage tin effect successful a jailhouse word - but adjacent that doesn't cancel retired the debt.

The magnitude really recovered successful cases similar this often falls good abbreviated of the magnitude embezzled - particularly if the wealth has been spent connected consumables, holidays, and luxury goods that depreciate.

When that happens, determination tin beryllium comparatively small near to confiscate.

The resale worth of the motorhome bought by Murrell could beryllium a fraction of the archetypal outlay.

His lawyer told the tribunal determination is capable of his assets frozen by tribunal bid to let repayment of the sum embezzled - truthful it seems he's got capable savings and assets to wage the debt.