Scotland's top law officer has said that police will "follow the evidence" during their investigation into property deals linked to Michelle Thomson.
Addressing the case at Holyrood, Frank Mulholland admitted that parties other than Christopher Hales, who acted as the MP's solicitor, would be investigated if evidence of wrongdoing is uncovered.
In response to a question from Tory MSP Murdo Fraser, who asked in what circumstances Police Scotland would investigate any other person connected with the solicitor, Mr Mulholland said: "It's a highly relevant question. The referral to Police Scotland is in relation to the solicitor who is subject to the Scottish Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal findings.
"The police have been instructed to investigate the property transactions relating to that finding resulting in the solicitor being struck off. Police Scotland have a duty in any criminal investigation to follow the evidence, and where that takes them. If during a police investigation evidence arises that other persons have been involved in criminality, fraud or whatever crime... then Police Scotland, I have complete faith in them, that they will act and do the right thing."
Ms Thomson resigned the SNP party whip last week after it emerged that police were investigating alleged irregularities in 13 separate cases in which Mr Hales acted on behalf of the MP in 2010 and 2011. The tribunal ruling stated that mortgage fraud may have been involved.
Earlier in the session, Mr Mulholland reiterated the Crown Office position that it had not known who Mr Hales's clients were on the two occasions that the case was raised informally with prosecutors, in December last year and the following April.
The Crown instructed police to carry out an investigation six days after a final report was handed over by the Crown Office, which did include names of Mr Hales's clients and properties involved, in July this year.
Police sources said that at present, Ms Thomson is not under investigation.
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