A detective denied yesterday that he had given drugs to a prisoner in a cell at Fort William Police station.
Acting Detective Inspector Richard Baird had been investigated by Northern Constabulary’s professional standards unit two years ago following Antonio Sabiu’s claim to a prison officer at Inverness after he had been found in possession of the cocaine.
No action resulted from the investigation.
Sabiu denies being concerned in the supply of cocaine at a Lochaber guest house, Fort William Sheriff Court, Inverness Prison on February 17, 2012.
He has lodged a special defence of incriminating the then Detective Sergeant Baird who he claims gave him the cocaine and ecstasy while he was in a custody cell at Fort William Police Station.
The cocaine was found by prison officers at Inverness when Sabiu was remanded there for a subsequent court appearance.
Sabiu told a prison officer that a policeman, later assumed to be Baird from his description, gave him the drugs to give to another prisoner in Shotts Prison.
DI Baird told the court he had arrested Sabiu with DI Andrew Logan at Sabiu’s guest house accommodation in Fort William on February 17, 2012.
DI Baird said Sabiu had been in his underpants at the time and was given time to dress, watched by the two detectives. He was then taken to the police station where he was searched and placed in a police cell.
The officer said: “I visited him three times, once in his cell, because he wanted to know if he could get released.
“It had already been decided he would be held in custody over the weekend. I didn’t know if he would be released by the fiscal or by the sheriff after his court appearance.
“I also did not know which prison he would be returned to if he was not released.”
Asked by fiscal depute if he gave Sabiu drugs, DI Baird replied: “Absolutely not.”
The trial continues.
