The Scottish Legal Aid Board is exploring using Peter Murrell's assets to cover his substantial legal costs to protect the public purse.
Despite being approved for Legal Aid, a government-funded programme to pay legal expenses for those who cannot afford it themselves, Murrell could still be blocked from using tax payer cash.
The Times reports the Scottish Legal Aid Board is looking into possible ways to "safeguard" public funds by using the disgraced for SNP Chief Executive's other assets to pay costs.
Murrell’s lawyers have already confirmed he will be in a position to repay the £400,000 he pled guilty to embezzling from the SNP.
However, Murrell has frozen assets, part of proceeds of crime proceedings, worth almost £700,000, including pension pots and his share of the marital home he lived in with Nicola Sturgeon.