Macaskill: Police quizzed me. Why?
Former justice secretary Kenny Macaskill has warned the Crown Office may be abusing its power after ordering police to launch an inquiry into alleged leaks linked to the Alex Salmond investigation.
Mr Macaskill was interviewed by officers after he revealed in September that he had been anonymously sent messages from SNP chief executive Peter Murrell encouraging pressure to be put on police investigating the former first minister.
The Crown Office has warned that release of any material supplied to Mr Salmond to prepare for his High Court trial would be in contempt of court.
EX-SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars was also interviewed by a detective sergeant last month and asked about articles he had written relating to the case against Mr Salmond.
Mr Macaskill has raised his concerns with Police Scotland Chief Constable Iain Livingstone, asking who in the Crown Office was directing Police Scotland.
He said: “I know that Police Scotland is required to follow Crown instructions in criminal investigations. However, that duty must not be abused and not in times of national emergency when police resources are badly needed.”
Mr Sillars said: “I am very disturbed by the conduct of the Crown Office in all matters relating to the Alex Salmond situation.”
In November, Lord Advocate James Wolffe told the Salmond inquiry that neither he nor the Solicitor General were “personally involved in any part of the Crown’s consideration of Mr Salmond’s case”.
The Crown Office and Police Scotland both said yesterday they had no comment to make.