The leader of Perth and Kinross Council has resigned after being charged with embezzlement.
Grant Laing, who has also quit the SNP, has been accused of committing the crime over an eight-year period.
Mr Laing, 63, represents the Strathtay ward. He was first elected in 2012 and became council leader in 2022.
On Monday, the local authority announced he would be leaving the post due to “personal reasons”.
Police Scotland later confirmed Mr Laing had been charged with embezzlement in the Perth area between 2017 and 2025 and a report would be sent to the procurator fiscal.
In an update on Tuesday morning, the council said: “For clarity, the reasons for his resignation are not connected to Perth and Kinross Council funds, operations or activities.”
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Mr Laing also left the SNP and will now sit as an independent councillor.
A spokesperson for the SNP said: “This has come as a huge shock to the party. As there are live criminal proceedings, we can’t comment any further at this time.”
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Meantime, councillor Eric Drysdale has stepped in as acting leader until the next full council meeting on 29 October.
Mr Laing was contacted for comment.
