Former SNP leader says he's 'innoce­nt of any crimin­ality whatso­ever'EDINBURGH: Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond denied committing any crime after he appeared in court on Thursday, charged with multiple sex offences including attempted rape. Scottish prosecutors said Salmond, 64, who said he had voluntarily gone to police on Wednesday after becoming aware of the investigation, had been charged with nine counts of sexual assault, two counts of attempted rape, two counts of indecent assault and breach of the peace. “I am innocent of any criminality whatsoever,” Salmond told reporters outside Edinburgh Sheriff Court following the brief hearing which media and public were not allowed to attend. The combative politician, nicknamed “Wee Eck” (little Alex), led the devolved Scottish government for seven years until 2014. As leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he helped to push support for Scottish independence to a record level but Scotland ultimately voted to stay part of the United Kingdom in a 2014 referendum.

Source: The Express Tribune January 24, 2019 14:48 UTC