Former first minister Alex Salmond has appeared in court charged with two attempted rapes and multiple sexual assaults.
The former Gordon MP appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, facing a total of 14 charges.
Salmond made no plea or declaration during the brief private hearing in front of Sheriff Frank Crowe, and the case was continued for further examination.
After being released on bail, the 64-year-old addressed the media and said he is “innocent of any criminality”.
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Salmond, of Strichen, Aberdeenshire, said: “Now that these proceedings, criminal proceedings, are live, it’s even more important to respect the court, and therefore, the only thing I can say is I refute absolutely the allegation of criminality and I will defend myself to the utmost in court.
“I have got great faith in the court system of Scotland. I have got recent cause to have great faith in the court system of Scotland – that is where I will state my case.”
Salmond is accused of two attempted rapes, nine sexual assaults, one indecent assault and a breach of the peace.
He was arrested after attending a police station in Central Scotland.
After hearing of her predecessor’s arrest First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the development would come as a “shock” to many people.
Earlier this month, the former SNP leader – who resigned his membership of the party in August 2018 – won a procedural case against the Scottish Government over the process of its investigation into harassment allegations against him.
In the case, the Scottish Government’s handling of the allegations against Salmond was ruled unlawful by the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
At the same time, Police Scotland had been investigating following the complaints of harassment.
No date has been set for Salmond’s next court hearing.
Salmond was Scotland’s first minister from 2007 to 2014, but stepped down following the result of the independence referendum.
He then lost his Gordon constituency seat at Westminster to the Conservatives in the 2017 general election.
