Sturgeon Faces Police Complaint Over Deleted Pandemic Messages
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Nicola Sturgeon faces a criminal investigation over deleting WhatsApp messages from the pandemic after bereaved families instructed lawyers to file a police complaint.
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It's a criminal offense under the Inquiries Act 2005 to intentionally suppress, conceal, alter or destroy "relevant" documents for an inquiry. Offenders face fines or prison.
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Sturgeon, former deputy first minister John Swinney, and Scotland's national clinical director Jason Leitch deleted their WhatsApp messages even though Sturgeon promised to provide them to the public inquiry.
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The deletion of the messages is "deeply concerning" according to the Scottish Information Commissioner, who said his office will look into potential breaches of law.
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Bereaved family members whose mothers died in a care home in 2020 are considering filing a police complaint over the deletions, saying it suggests officials are hiding something.