The former first minister spoke to reporters on the Scottish Parliament for the primary time since former SNP chief government Peter Murrell was questioned on 5 April.

“I understand the view that some people might have, that I knew this was all about to unfold and that’s why I walked away,” she stated.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. I could not have anticipated in my worst nightmares what would have unfolded over the past few weeks.”

She added: “Clearly the events of the last few weeks have been difficult and – I use this word advisedly and deliberately – in some respects very traumatic. But I accept that is the nature of the process that is under way right now.”

It got here because the social gathering’s former treasurer Colin Beattie – additionally arrested and launched in the identical police probe – stated he had not identified the social gathering had purchased a £100,000 motorhome, elevating recent questions concerning the buy.

As a part of their investigation, Police Scotland are thought to have seized a Niesmann + Bischoff campervan purchased by the social gathering however apparently by no means used.

Mr Beattie – who resigned as treasurer after being launched with out cost pending additional investigation – was requested if he knew concerning the buy. “No – I didn’t know about it.”

The Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Labour each described it as a “bombshell revelation” – asking how the treasurer couldn’t have identified about such a big buy.

Chris Hoy, the Scottish Tory chair, stated: “This causal admission from Colin Beattie beggars belief.

Attacking the “murkiness” round SNP funds, the senior Tory stated: “How on earth could someone who was treasurer, when the accounts featuring this six-figure purchase were signed off, now claim he was never aware of it?”

Labour deputy Jackie Baillie stated: “This is yet another bombshell revelation that lays bare the chaos at the heart of the SNP. That the treasurer of the party did not know that over £100,000 had been spent on a motorhome is mind-boggling.”

Mr Beattie additionally denied that the SNP is in monetary issue, insisting: “The SNP is in the black.”

Later on Tuesday, the SNP’s Westminster chief Stephen Flynn was requested concerning the motorhome as he spoke at an Institute for Government occasion in London. He stated he grew to become conscious of the acquisition “when it was printed on the front of a newspaper”.

Humza Yousaf has stated he didn’t know the SNP had purchased the car till after he grew to become the social gathering chief/

Ms Sturgeon stated it was “frustrating” not with the ability to give her facet of the SNP finance story, and stated she had not been questioned by police and by no means had a “burner phone”, following experiences that police detectives had been looking for sim playing cards utilized in disposable mobiles.

Mr Beattie stated the SNP’s issue to find auditors to look over its accounts forward of a May deadline is as a result of “market situation”.

He made no remark when requested if he needs to be suspended from the SNP, however stated he has “no plans at the moment” to resign from Holyrood’s financial system and honest work committee, including that he believes he’s a “fit and proper person” to serve on it.

The MSP was additionally requested if his arrest was the worst factor which has ever occurred to him. He replied: “No, I was in Beirut actually when I was under artillery fire – that was worse.”

The SNP’s Westminster group may miss out on £1.2m as a part of funding given for oppositions events if it fails to file audited accounts by the top of May.