"A 52-year-old woman who was arrested earlier today, Sunday, 11 June, 2023, as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party, has been released without charge pending further investigation," police said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, police said that a 52-year-old woman had been arrested "as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party." UK media confirmed that the arrested woman was Sturgeon.
"A 52-year-old woman has today, Sunday, 11 June, 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party. The woman is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives," Police Scotland said in a statement.
Police specified that the woman was arrested at 10:09 a.m. (09:09 GMT), questioned and released from custody at 5:24 p.m.
The ex-first minister posted a statement on Twitter, maintaining that she is "innocent of any wrongdoing."
On February 15, Sturgeon announced her resignation from her role as first minister after eight years in office. Scotland's ruling SNP declared Humza Yousaf, former Scottish health minister, the winner of its leadership contest.
In April, Sturgeon's husband and the SNP's former chief executive, Peter Murrell, was arrested in connection with an investigation into the party's funding and finances, but was later released without any charges pending further investigation. Police were reportedly investigating the alleged mishandling of about £600,000 ($745,000) of Scottish independence campaign funds.
The same month, British media reported that some SNP members believed Sturgeon's arrest as part of the financing probe was "inevitable."
In late 2022, Murrell sparked questions after reports emerged that he had provided the SNP with an interest-free loan of over 100,000 pounds "to assist with cash flow," which was not fully declared for over a year.