Yes Scotland Hands Over Accounts Amid Financial Complaint
Yes Scotland, the organisation that campaigned for Scottish independence during the 2014 referendum, has submitted its complete financial accounts to the police following a complaint regarding its finances.
The Sunday Mail initially reported allegations concerning the unclear expenditure of over £1.5 million in income by the group.
The complaint was lodged by David Henry, who previously raised concerns about the Scottish National Party's (SNP) finances, which contributed to the conviction of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell.
Legal representatives for former Yes Scotland chief executive Blair Jenkins have denied the allegations, affirming that all income received by Yes Scotland has been fully accounted for.
Police Inquiry into Alleged Missing Funds
"This story was based on a very basic misunderstanding of accounts and Yes Scotland's financial statements,"
"All of the income received by Yes Scotland is fully accounted for and it is grossly defamatory to say otherwise.
There appears to have been a desperate attempt to link Peter Murrell's criminal conduct in the SNP to the financial affairs of Yes Scotland.
To make it perfectly clear, Mr Murrell never at any time had access to Yes Scotland's accounts."
Aamer Anwar, solicitor for Blair Jenkins, made these statements in response to the allegations.
David Henry told the Sunday Mail that the campaign company's accounts from 2016 onward showed a zero balance, and that the £1.5 million recorded earlier appeared to have "just gone".
Henry is scheduled to meet senior officers at Fettes Police Station in Edinburgh to discuss the matter further.
Police Scotland has confirmed that inquiries into Henry's complaint are ongoing.
Background on Yes Scotland and Financial Reporting
Yes Scotland Ltd was established by former SNP leader and First Minister Alex Salmond to promote independence ahead of the 2014 referendum. The organisation has been inactive since that year.
Its most recent dormant accounts, published last year, indicated a zero balance.
Yes Scotland has directed BBC Scotland to the audited referendum financial returns, which are publicly available online.
According to figures published by the Electoral Commission, Yes Scotland reported receiving donations exceeding £2.6 million and expended over £1.4 million during the referendum campaign.
For comparison, the pro-union Better Together campaign reported donations of nearly £3.7 million and spending of more than £1.4 million.
Aamer Anwar stated that full sets of Yes Scotland accounts for the years 2013, 2014, and 2015 were voluntarily submitted to Police Scotland on 13 July.
"To be clear, there is no 'missing' £1.5m,"
"But what is missing is any explanation as to why it did not occur to those making the allegations that the £1.5m represents spending by the campaign."
The SNP has emphasised that Yes Scotland Ltd was an "entirely separate organisation" from the party.
This development follows the jailing of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, who received a sentence of over five years after admitting to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party over a five-year period.
Murrell's actions were investigated by Police Scotland and the Crown Office under Operation Branchform.
Blair Jenkins, pictured centre with actress Elaine C Smith in 2014, was chief executive of the Yes Scotland campaign
