A man told a court he was given drugs by a police officer to smuggle into a prison to give to an inmate.
Antonio Sabiu claimed that the cocaine given to him by Detective Sergeant Richard Baird was for him to pass on to “Hutchie” a prisoner in Shotts jail.
Sabiu said in evidence at Inverness Sheriff Court today he did not want to be a drug courier and thought the best way out of his predicament was to deliberately get caught with them when he was remanded, not to Shotts, but to Inverness Prison.
Sabiu, from Fort William, denies being concerned in the supply of cocaine at a Fort William guest house, Fort William Sheriff Court and Inverness Prison on February 17, 2012.
He has lodged a special defence of incrimination, naming DS Baird, now an acting detective inspector.
The court has already heard that Sabiu was detained for allegedly threatening a police officer.
Sabiu told solicitor advocate Gerry Sweeney: “I was detained at my B&B accommodation by DS Baird and DI Andy Logan and I was searched before being taken to Fort William Police Station.
“I was searched there again before being placed in a cell. I asked to speak to a policeman because I was due to have supper with my two teenage sons who I had promised that I would never be away from them again.
“I was anxious to find out how long I would be in there because I had not been charged or told what I was being detained for.
“DS Baird came to see me and I was asking him why I was locked up and for how long. His answer was not clear so I expected to be detained for the weekend.
“I was out on licence from Shotts and I expected to be recalled there to finish my sentence. Later that evening, a policeman in casual clothes who I assumed was off duty came to see me in my cell. I didn’t recognise him as DS Baird perhaps because of his change of attire or because I was more focused on DI Logan than DS Baird when I was being interviewed by Mr Logan.
“He handed me a note and two packages. One of the packages contained eight pellets and I had an idea they were cocaine. The other had 10 ecstasy tablets.
“He said I was to take the cocaine back to Shotts and it was for ‘Hutchie’. He said the Clydebank boys knew I was in here. He said the ecstasy tablets were for me.
“People who know me know that I don’t take alcohol. It is the only thing I take on a recreational basis. It was a reward for doing the job.
“I didn’t want to be a courier. But I was under duress and Hutchie leads an uncompromising lifestyle. I had no option.”
Sabiu said he didn’t tell other police officers about what had happened because he felt he couldn’t trust anyone.
He said: “The only option open to me was to be caught with them. That would have been acceptable to Hutchie and his associates. They would not have been pleased with me giving them up or flushing them away.”
The trial continues.
