Claims of COVER UP as Judge jails anti abuse campaigner for ONE YEAR to justify £1/2 million cost of trial started by ex Lord Advocate Angiolini

Anti abuse campaigner Robert Green is sentenced to ONE YEAR in jail for handing out leaflets calling for abuse inquiry. IN what many legal observers have branded a STAGGERING decision, Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen sitting at Stonehaven Sheriff Court earlier today took the unprecedented step of jailing the well known anti-abuse campaigner Robert Green to ONE YEAR in prison, for a ‘crime’ which can be traced back to Green’s arrest in February 2010 by Grampian Police officers on orders from the Crown Office for the heinous offence of attempting to hand out leaflets calling for an inquiry into allegations of child abuse raised by downs syndrome victim Hollie Greig and her mother, Anne Greig who were forced to flee Aberdeen some years ago after Grampian Police and Scotland’s Crown Office refused to investigate allegations of child abuse by an alleged paedophile gang based in the area.

The stiff sentence issued by Sheriff Bowen, who, it is claimed, failed to declare relationships with key figures central to the case which included the now former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini DBE QC (née McPhilomy) brings to a close for now, Scotland’s most expensive ever Breach of the Peace trial which saw a record HALF A MILLION POUNDS spent on the investigation & trial of Mr Green, a case which tunnelled through the Scottish Courts system for over two years at huge cost to taxpayers.

A legal insider speaking this evening to Scottish Law Reporter branded the one year sentence as “excessive”, putting it down to the judge needing to justify the enormous amount of money & effort spent on bringing Mr Green to trial.

He said : “The sentence has little to do with justice, rather it appears more to do with the Crown Office, Police, the Court Service and a collection of questionably motivated ‘others’ needing to take someone’s head off to justify the enormous amount of taxpayers money they have spent on their vindictive pursuit of Mr Green.”

The record spend of at least half a million pounds on the case included FIFTEEN PRE TRIAL HEARINGS at Stonehaven Sheriff Court, 18,000 travel miles for the accused, trips by Grampian Police Officers to England to search & raid homes & seize property including computers & documents, Crown Office staff being flown into Aberdeen especially for the case, and a witness list which at one point totalled SIXTY ONE persons.

The Hollie Demands Justice campaign issued a Press Release, stating it very much regrets the decision today of the Sheriff Court in Stonehaven to deprive Robert Green of his Liberty.

The Hollie Demands Justice campaign said : “Despite breaches of Mr Green's human rights and repeated irregularities in law and process by the police, the legal profession and the court system since Robert Green was first arrested in February 2010, the Sheriff Court in Stonehaven, Sheriff Principle Edward Bowen saw fit to curtail his freedom, sentencing him to 1 year in jail (9 months for Breach of the Peace, 3 months for Breach of Bail conditions).”

“Robert has been a most robust and valued campaigner on behalf of Hollie Greig and her mother Anne, in seeking justice for the wrongs inflicted upon Hollie, exposing the lack of a duty of care from those in positions of trust, the perjury of Grampian Police and highlighting the nefarious nature of the legal system and the Establishment in both Scotland and England.”

Speaking in response to the sentencing of Mr Green, Annie Greig, the mother of Hollie said : “Hollie and I would like to publicly thank Robert Green for his bravery, his tireless work and his dedication to Hollies cause, her search for justice. We consider ourselves most fortunate to have found such a man of principle to act and campaign on our behalf, whose selfless actions have taken him into conflict with those who would abuse their power and powerful connections to evade justice. Our disappointment with the legal system in Scotland now knows no bounds. In our opinion Robert Green should be awarded a medal, not a criminal conviction.”

Mrs Greig continued : “It is our hope that Robert's legal team will mount a speedy and energetic appeal on his behalf to release him from this enforced loss of his liberty that he most certainly does not deserve and we now state publicly that we will have fears for his well-being whilst in prison. We will hold responsible and accountable those who have seen fit to incarcerate him should any interference with his being or any harm befall him.”

“I would like to thank all the wonderful people who have supported Hollie, Robert and myself during this long and ongoing campaign, especially those who have repeatedly made the long trip to Scotland regularly giving support to Robert during his many hearings. Both Hollie and myself extend our heartfelt wishes, our thoughts and our prayers are with Robert today.”

Speaking to one of our reporters late today, a Crown Office spokesperson commented : "Following a trial on summary complaint at Stonehaven Sheriff Court, George Robert Green (27/03/46) was convicted of breach of the peace and breaches of bail. Sentencing is a matter for the court."

However, the Judiciary for Scotland declined to comment to one of our journalists, a spokesperson stating : “The Judicial Office does not comment on individual cases.” No sentencing statement has been released from the Scottish Court Service.

No statement has yet been released by Green’s defence team on their further plans, which many expect to include an appeal. However, one observer to the trial told Scottish Law Reporter tonight : “Robert’s jail sentence for daring to stand up to the powers that be is nothing short of evil.”

He continued : “How can it be that someone who campaigns on behalf of a little girl who the authorities appear to agree was abused, gets sent to jail, while the same authorities have never bothered to fully investigate the allegations or arrest anyone for committing the abuse they themselves say took place.”

A reminder of previous events in the trial of anti abuse campaigner Robert Green can be viewed in earlier coverage by Scottish Law Reporter HERE and further coverage of the Hollie Greig case along with a recent investigation into the knighthood of Angiolini, apparently recommended by the Scottish Government.

Sheriff in £1/2Million trial of anti abuse campaigner failed to declare relationship with Lord Advocate on Northern Lighthouse Board ‘lawyers club’ . Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen who heard Scotland’s most expensive ever Breach of the Peace trial of anti abuse campaigner Robert Green and subsequently found Mr Green guilty of committing a breach of the peace over an attempt to hand out leaflets in Aberdeen during February 2010, is today alleged to have failed to declare a relevant relationship with one of the central characters of the trial, former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini DBE QC who served as a Commissioner along with Sheriff Principal Bowen on the Northern Lighthouse Board together with a large, if curious gathering of senior members of the legal profession, the judiciary & prosecutors which includes the current boss of the Crown Office, Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland, and his deputy, the Solicitor General, Lesley Thomson.

Former Lord Advocate now Dame Elish Angiolini employed Cayman Islands hopping lawyers from Glasgow. Reporting on the background of the case, Robert Green was arrested by Police on 12th February 2010 in relation to a breach of the peace alleged to have been committed in Aberdeen when Mr Green attempted to hand out leaflets regarding the anti-abuse campaign. It was also revealed the then Lord Advocate, now Dame Elish Angiolini had employed private law firm Levy McRae to serve interdicts on Mr Green in connection with his campaign to ‘out’ alleged abusers of downs syndrome victim Hollie Greig. Glasgow law firm Levy McRae who later represented shamed former Glasgow City Council Boss & Cocaine addict Steven Purcell, proceeded to threaten several media outlets & journalists over their reporting of the case, covered by Scottish Law Reporter HERE & HERE. The Glasgow City Council Purcell cocaine scandal caused some newspapers to ‘evaluate’ their relationship with Levy McRae, details of which were featured in a report here : HERE.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill worked at, has ties to same law firm used by then Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini in interdict case. As details of the case began to be reported in the wider press, it emerged the Scottish Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill had links to LEVY MCRAE, the law firm employed by the then Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini in legal action against Mr Green. Mr MacAskill has made no comment on the fact he served his apprenticeship at Levy McRae and also worked at the firm for a considerable time during his years as a solicitor before he entered politics, while he is thought to have backed Dame Angiolini in her actions at the time. The revelations were reported by Scottish Law Reporter at the time, HERE.

Jobs for the Police Boys : Justice Secretary MacAskill silent on retired cop who returned to ‘civilianised’ job after pocketing £300K PENSION

Room with a grace & favour view : John Geates retires with £300K pension then goes back to same job with a £95K salary all on MacAskill’s silent watch. KENNY MACASKILL, Scotland’s Justice Secretary has signed off on the reappointment of John Geates, the Director of the Scottish Police training college at Tulliallan near Perth to the same job albeit in a ‘civilian role’ after Geates retired from his official Police role with a whopping THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUND PENSION PAYOUT. The now retired Police College Director, at only forty nine years of age was allowed to return to his old job just 24 hours later, and will now earn a slightly reduced salary of NINETY FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS A YEAR, while also keeping his luxury grace & favour home on the Police training college campus, reports the Sunday Mail newspaper.

No comment has been offered from the Scottish Government on the quiet reappointment of Geates to the ‘civilian’ version of his old job, a job which was NOT advertised for candidates.

The Sunday Mail reports :

Top cop retires and pockets £300k pension lump sum but is back at desk the next day

Feb 12 2012 Exclusive by Norman Silvester

A POLICE chief was allowed to return to his old job 24 hours after retiring with a £300,000 pension payout. John Geates left his post as ­director of the Scottish Police ­College in Fife on a salary of £110,000 a year. The 49-year-old was back at the same desk the next working day but this time as a civilian, not a police officer.

The “new” job as Tulliallan ­college director had not been advertised and no candidates were interviewed. Now Geates earns the reduced salary of £95,000 but he has kept his luxury grace and favour home on the campus. No official announcement was made of the move despite it being one of Scotland’s top police jobs.

Geates’s reappointment has caused fury at a time when budget cuts threaten frontline police services. Labour justice spokesman Lewis Macdonald MSP said yesterday: “This is a matter of concern. “I don’t doubt Mr Geates is very good at his job but we have no way of knowing if he was the best ­candidate as the post wasn’t ­advertised. It is also not a good example to be showing when officers from the lower ranks are being asked to tighten their belts.”

One senior police source said: “Many top officers in Scotland think this job should have been advertised to allow others to apply.“It is, after all, one of the most important jobs in Scottish ­policing.”

Geates’s staff at Tulliallan train new police recruits from across Scotland and provide extra courses for experienced officers.

The college is run by the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA), who control forensics, fingerprints, ­buying equipment and the ­Scottish Crime and Drug ­Enforcement Agency. Geates has been director since 2007 and in June 2009 was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal at ­Buckingham Palace. He will continue to live in a wing of Tulliallan ­Castle, with en-suite bedrooms, kitchen, a dining room, public rooms, its own ­landscaped gardens, and a corridor that links the property to his office.

When Geates turns 55, he will be entitled to an annual pension of around £56,000 a year, half his old salary, and continue to work as director on full pay. The ­reappointment was ­welcomed by Chief Superintendent David O’Connor of the Association of ­Scottish Police Superintendents. He said: “This is a very important time for the police service in ­Scotland and I am glad that John’s many ­talents and qualities are being retained.“John will have paid more than 11 per cent of his salary over his 30 years’ service towards his ­ pension and is entitled to the ­benefits.”

Yesterday, the SPSA defended their reappointment of Geates, who left on July 12 last year and started his new job on July 13. They said they were saving £22,000 a year on salary costs by “civilianising” the post.

SPSA chief executive Andrea Quinn said: “We ­welcomed the opportunity to retain John Geates in his role to provide vital ­continuity in a key specialist service. “We strongly believe we had the right person with the right skills and a unique blend of experience for this role. “That we are able to employ him at less cost strengthens that ­position.”

Geates declined to comment.

Scots 'Child Porn Oil Executive' turned informer to escape prison, claims emerge file sharing list contains lawyers & others yet to be arrested

THE Scottish justice system seems to have continuing difficulty in dealing with paedophiles, even the ones who are actually convicted, according to anti abuse campaigners today after it was reported in the media yet another convicted paedophile file sharer pervert Liam Gibson of Kilbucho, Biggar, Scotland, who also happens to be an Oil Company Executive, owning Gibson Marine Ltd based in Pathead, Scotland, has escaped a prison term, after he turned informer and, it was claimed some of the evidence gathered in the investigation into his online file sharing activities has revealed a string of contacts including members of the legal profession, possibly a judge or two, and other paedophiles inside the UK and abroad who have yet to be arrested for their crimes.

Lothian & Borders Police, who raided Gibson’s home found after an investigation , he was in possession of 50,000 images of child pornography and thousands of abuse movie clips. However, the courtroom was to prove the saving ticket for Gibson, who pled guilty to the charges, and fearing jail, turned informant. Doing his best to avoid a prison term, Gibson also told Police he had been abused as a child and was attracted to young children although as this was not enough to convince a blank wall, Gibson also ‘turned informant on others’ in a bid to avoid jail.

Mr Gibson had the ex Labour msp Gordon Jackson, QC, defending him in court. Mr Jackson, who once claimed £50,000 for slipping on ice in Edinburgh and lost, told the court of his now convicted client, saying : “He has fully co-operated with the police and with the Crown. We know that the police are content with his level of co-operation and with what he has told them. They have found the information to be helpful. We do not know whether there have been arrests in somewhere like Sheffield as a consequence of what he has told them – that is secret, confidential information. But what I can say is that his information has greatly assisted them.”

Among other excuses statements in defence proffered to the court by defence counsel was the long career of Mr Gibson in the Merchant Navy, the fact his wife had left him, and that “He is thought to be one of the world’s best in a highly specialised sector. He is a world renowned expert.”

Mr Jackson said the police recognised that Gibson had fully co-operated and provided them with information that helped their inquiries. However, neither the procurator fiscal nor Mr Jackson disclosed exactly what Gibson had told detectives.

Sheriff Scott said Mr Jackson had persuaded him not to send Gibson to prison.

Almost unbelievably, Gibson got probation instead of a jail term which was expected in the case. Sheriff John Scott who handed down the sentence of a probation order for THREE YEARS and 150 hours community service, warned Gibson that he risked going to prison if he accessed similar pictures again.

The Sheriff said: "I am persuaded that the most appropriate way to deal with this is to impose a probation order. The probation order for a period of three years. You will also perform 150 hours of unpaid work in the community."

Children’s charities criticised the sentence. Donald Findlater, a spokesman on sexual abuse at child protection charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, said: “It is somewhat surprising that a prison sentence did not happen here, but each case is based on an individual set of circumstances and the individual’s future behaviour. It’s important the sentence doesn’t send a message to other offenders or, indeed victims, that this stuff doesn’t matter – it most seriously does matter and we need to make sure the courts pay attention to that.”

Kate Smith, Children 1st’s director of communications, said: “Downloading child pornography is not a victimless crime. Behind every image there is a real child who has suffered in the making of that image. We know how difficult it is for children who have been abused to come forward, for fear they will not be believed or their disclosure not taken seriously. That’s why it’s important for the justice system to treat and dispose of such cases consistently.”

Gibson from Biggar, Lanarkshire, pleaded guilty last month to possessing indecent images of children at his then home in Pathhead, Midlothian. Sentence had been deferred until yesterday for the court to obtain reports.

The former Merchant Navy sailor owns Gibson Marine, which operates throughout the world transporting rigs to oil fields and which turned a profit of £102,000 in 2010.

Gibson Marine Ltd says on its website it “provides consultancy and Towmaster services to the marine industry. We have wide experience in the moving of oil rigs both semi submersible and jack ups, we specialize in the placing of jack up oil rigs alongside existing platforms. In more recent years we have entered into the offshore heavy lift market and worked extensively with heavy lift vessels and barges and also taken part in our first FPSO installation.”

Aside from his business activities, Gibson used file-sharing software in which he exchanged photographs with others online before being caught by officers from Lothian and Borders Police. Gibson, who calls himself Captain on his business website, was arrested after his home was raided by police in May 2011. Officers discovered a total of 49,809 indecent images on his computer. The majority of the images contained boys who were aged five to 14.

It is rumoured Police Officers working on the investigation are extremely disappointed Gibson was not sent to jail.

So, when do they arrest the judges, lawyers and others on the list and how many of them are in Scotland ? – Ed?

NOT PROVEN : The day the Crown Office couldn't convict Lothian & Borders Police of Gun Running over 'destroyed firearms' found at Edinburgh Gun shop

Some things are not best forgotten : Edinburgh cops saved by a “Not Proven” verdict over gun running charges. AMID fresh claims that weapons handed into Scottish Police Forces which are supposed to have been destroyed, ranging from expensive antique firearms to Nazi daggers have recently been turning up in former officer’s private and apparently secret collections, or being put up for sale in auctions, both private and online, it may well be time to reflect on another incident of a strikingly similar nature which took place in Scotland in the mid 1980’s, where a siege at Field & Stream, an Edinburgh Gun shop at the time revealed THOUSANDS of GUNS which had also supposedly been destroyed by Lothian & Borders Police. However, even though incredibly, some Police were actually charged over the discoveries of the allegedly destroyed weapons which were up for sale in the Gun shop, no officers were ever found guilty.

The Crown Office’ part in the failed prosecution of the alleged gun runners of Lothian & Borders Police and the many other officers who either must have known or played a part but were never arrested or even interviewed, was never really explained, apart from the usual rumours of incompetence, and fit ups now well engrained into public life.

Read more on the Lothian & Borders Fettes Gun Running scandal HERE

Incidentally, even though no Police Officers were jailed in the 1980’s scandal, the Gun shop owner who had been holding himself hostage (Yes, you did read that correctly – Ed) received a 33 month sentence. (Do these new claims relate to the rumours about the retired senior cop who sold a few SS Daggers & chains including one to a judge ? Wonder if he also likes motorsports ? – Ed)

If you have a story about items handed into the Police, why not tell us at Scottish Law Reporter.

Sheriff in £1/2Million trial of anti abuse campaigner failed to declare relationship with Lord Advocate on Northern Lighthouse Board ‘lawyers club’

Sheriff Principal was Lighthouse Board Commissioner along with Angiolini for TEN YEARS, failed to declare at trial. Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen who heard Scotland’s most expensive ever Breach of the Peace trial of anti abuse campaigner Robert Green and subsequently found Mr Green guilty of committing a breach of the peace over an attempt to hand out leaflets in Aberdeen during February 2010, is today alleged to have failed to declare a relevant relationship with one of the central characters of the trial, former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini DBE QC who served as a Commissioner along with Sheriff Principal Bowen on the Northern Lighthouse Board together with a large, if curious gathering of senior members of the legal profession, the judiciary & prosecutors which includes the current boss of the Crown Office, Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland, and his deputy, the Solicitor General, Lesley Thomson.

Detailed documents shown to Scottish Law Reporter reveal Dame Angiolini and Sheriff Principal Bowen were Commissioners at the Northern Lighthouse Board for around TEN YEARS, until both resigned, within 24 hours of each other during 2011. It has now transpired Sheriff Bowen “was the preferred choice of COPFS” to hear the trial against Green during the time the Sheriff served with Angiolini on the NLB.

Several records of meetings held by the Northern Lighthouse Board where the Sheriff & Lord Advocate Angiolini were both present, are available on the NLB’s website here NLB Minutes-of-Meetings The Sheriff & then still serving Lord Advocate attended three meetings on 22 February 2010, 01 June 2010 and 28 February 2011, dates which tally with the period of Green’s arrest & initial hearings.

Unusually there has been no reference made by Sheriff Principal Bowen in the trial to his previous relationship with the former Lord Advocate, who headed the Crown Office when Green was charged with breach of the peace for attempting to hand out leaflets in Aberdeen calling for an inquiry into allegations made by downs syndrome victim Hollie Greig of child abuse. Sheriff Principal Bowen also blocked the appearance of Dame Angiolini at the trial of Green, despite his legal team citing her as a witness, featured on Scottish Law Reporter HERE

Stonehaven Sheriff Court officials refused to confirm Sheriff Bowen’s status. A letter handed over to Scottish Law Reporter today reveals Sheriff Court officials at Stonehaven Sheriff Court have REFUSED to elaborate on Sheriff Bowen’s relationship with Angiolini, or confirm whether the Sheriff Principal did tell the court of his association with the former Lord Advocate. A member of the staff at Stonehaven Sheriff Court took an angry tone over enquiries made on the Sheriff’s relationship with Angiolini, saying : “I am not in a position to confirm or deny that Sheriff Principal Bowen failed to disclose to the court his relationship with Elish Angiolini, and I do not think it would be proper to enter into any further correspondence on the matter.”

Legal experts say the Sheriff should have declared his interest and immediately recused himself from the trial. A solicitor commenting on the matter today was of the opinion Mr Green’s rights as an accused had been breached.

Meanwhile a campaigner speaking to Scottish Law Reporter this morning said there should be an independent investigation to establish whether the Sheriff Principal deliberately concealed the information from the trial.

Mr Green has written more about the apparent conflicts of interest on his web blog : holliedemandsjustice-robertgreensblog

A reminder of previous events in the trial of anti abuse campaigner Robert Green can be viewed in earlier coverage by Scottish Law Reporter HERE and further coverage of the Hollie Greig case along with a recent investigation into the knighthood of Angiolini, apparently recommended by the Scottish Government.

Former Lord Advocate now Dame Elish Angiolini employed Cayman Islands hopping lawyers from Glasgow. Reporting on the background of the case, Robert Green was arrested by Police on 12th February 2010 in relation to a breach of the peace alleged to have been committed in Aberdeen when Mr Green attempted to hand out leaflets regarding the anti-abuse campaign. It was also revealed the then Lord Advocate, now Dame Elish Angiolini had employed private law firm Levy McRae to serve interdicts on Mr Green in connection with his campaign to ‘out’ alleged abusers of downs syndrome victim Hollie Greig. Glasgow law firm Levy McRae who later represented shamed former Glasgow City Council Boss & Cocaine addict Steven Purcell, proceeded to threaten several media outlets & journalists over their reporting of the case, covered by Scottish Law Reporter HERE & HERE. The Purcell scandal caused some newspapers to ‘evaluate’ their relationship with Levy McRae, details of which were featured in a report here : HERE

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill worked at, has ties to same law firm used by then Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini in interdict case. As details of the case began to be reported in the wider press, it emerged the Scottish Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill had links to LEVY MCRAE, the law firm employed by the then Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini in legal action against Mr Green. Mr MacAskill has made no comment on the fact he served his apprenticeship at Levy McRae and also worked at the firm for a considerable time during his years as a solicitor before he entered politics, while he is thought to have backed Dame Angiolini in her actions at the time. The revelations were reported by Scottish Law Reporter at the time, HERE.

Northern Lighthouse Board – A haven for lawyers, judges and prosecutors

A perusal of the list of Commissioners of the Northern Lighthouse Board reveals some very interesting personalities from the Scots legal world, which include senior Sheriffs, the current Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland and his Solicitor General Lesley Thomson, and a host of others in a curious mix of unexpected legal world dominance.

http://www.nlb.org.uk/AboutUs/BoardBusiness/List-of-Commissioners/

Sheriff Principal Alastair Dunlop QC (Chairman) Sheriff Principal of Tayside, Central & Fife

Captain H Michael Close (Vice-Chairman), Elected by the Commissioners

Frank Mulholland QC, Lord Advocate

Lesley Thomson QC, Solicitor General of Scotland

Sheriff Principal Bruce Kerr QC, Sheriff Principal of North Strathclyde

Sheriff Principal Brian Lockhart. Sheriff Principal of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway

Sheriff Principal Craig Scott, Sheriff Principal of Glasgow and Strathkelvin

Sheriff Principal Mhairi Stephen, Sheriff Principal Lothian and Borders

Sheriff Principal Sir Stephen Young Bt QC, Sheriff Principal of Grampian, Highlands and Islands

Rev Dr George Grubb, The Rt Hon The Lord Provost of Edinburgh

Councillor Robert Winter, The Rt Hon The Lord Provost of Glasgow

Councillor Peter Stephen, Lord Provost of Aberdeen

William Petrie OBE JP DL, Convener of the Council of Argyll and Bute

Councillor Sandy Park, Convener of Highland Council

Sir Andrew Cubie CBE, Nominated by the Department for Transport and elected by the Commissioners

Robert Quayle, Nominated by the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man and elected by the Commissioners

Alistair Mackenzie, Elected by the Commissioners

John Ross CBE FRAgS, Elected by the Commissioners

Alistair Whyte, Elected by the Commissioners

TAX AVOIDANCE ROW as Scottish Government £20 Million private lawyers buy property for shamed banker Fred Goodwin in secret trust house deal

Salmond’s Lawyers help out shamed banker : Law firm awarded part of a massive £20m contract by Scottish Ministers is buying houses for Fred Goodwin. A PRIVATE FIRM OF LAWYERS working for Alex Salmond’s Scottish Government, Maclay Murray & Spens LLP (MMS) are today revealed to be helping buy properties for the former Royal Bank of Scotland Chief dubbed the “World’s Worst Banker”, FRED GOODWIN who was stripped of his knighthood last week. Maclay Murray & Spens LLP, the Scots based law firm awarded part of a little talked about TWENTY MILLION POUND Scottish Government contract after Scottish Ministers insisted they needed to employ even more lawyers than the 225 already serving Scots politicians, are reported today to be purchasing properties in possible TAX AVOIDANCE DEALS through Glasgow based VINDEX TRUSTEES Ltd a lawyer controlled DORMANT TRUST on behalf of the shamed banker Goodwin whose takeover deals caused the collapse of the Royal Bank of Scotland and nearly took the UK’s entire economy with it.

Papers obtained by newspapers have revealed the lawyer controlled Glasgow based trust Vindex Trustees Ltd have purchased a £3.1 million mansion home in Edinburgh in a deal which could allow Goodwin TO AVOID paying hundreds of thousands of pounds in tax.

In an excerpt from the Daily Mail newspaper report on the revelations :

Disgraced banker Fred Goodwin is at the centre of a new row over the purchase through a trust of a £3.1 million home – which could allow him to avoid paying hundreds of thousands of pounds in tax.

Experts say the former RBS chief executive, who was last week stripped of his knighthood, may be exploiting a legal loophole that is often used to avoid stamp duty or reduce inheritance tax. Official documents reveal that the six-bedroom mansion in Edinburgh is owned by Vindex Trustees Ltd, which is controlled by a law firm. There is no mortgage listed for the property, suggesting it was bought for cash.

One expert said such a trust arrangement could be used by a wealthy individual to reduce the amount of inheritance tax his family had to pay after his death. Under this scheme, the home owner lends a trust the money to buy the house, and then arranges for the trust to repay the original loan to his children. When the loan is repaid, the children do not have to pay inheritance tax on the sum, which could be as much as £1.2 million on a £3.1 million property.

Information on Vindex Trustees Ltd :

VINDEX TRUSTEES LIMITED Company Number SC026895
Registered Office 1 GEORGE SQUARE GLASGOW UNITED KINGDOM G2 1AL
Company Origin United Kingdom, Scotland, Glasgow,Company Status Active
Company Type PRI/LTD BY GUAR/NSC (Private, limited by guarantee, no share capital)
Incorporation Date 12/03/1949, Nature of Business 7499 - Non-trading company
Accounting Reference Date 31/05,Last Accounts Made Up To 31/05/2010 (DORMANT)
Next Accounts Due 29/02/2012,Last Return Made Up To 08/10/2010,Next Return Due 05/11/2011

MacLay Murray & Spens LLP, who are identified as controllers of Vindex Trustees Ltd in documents obtained online, were taken on by the Scottish Government in an unprecedented round of massive legal contracts awarded to private law firms last year totalling TWENTY MILLION POUNDS, even though the Scottish Government already has well over TWO HUNDRED LAWYERS working for it in-house, at well over TEN MILLION POUNDS cost to taxpayers.

The full list of law firms who won the tenders to provide extra legal advice to the Scottish Government are :

Contract, commercial and corporate – Dundas & Wilson CS; DLA Piper Scotland; Morton Fraser; MacRoberts; Pinsent Masons

Debt recovery: Harper Macleod; Maclay Murray & Spens; McGrigors; MacRoberts; Morton Fraser

Litigation, inquiries and employment: Anderson Strathern; Brodies; DLA Piper Scotland; Ledingham Chalmers; Morton Fraser

Major projects: Biggart Baillie; Dundas & Wilson CS; DLA Piper Scotland; MacRoberts; Pinsent Masons Property: Harper Macleod; DLA Piper Scotland; Ledingham Chalmers; McGrigors; Morton Fraser

The Scottish Government’s tender for the intake of law firms at vast taxpayer’s expense can be viewed online here : CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE £20 Million for a panel of law firms for four years although many of the web links contained within the tender which link back to the Scottish Government's website go to non-existent pages.

A more detailed report along with revelations many of the law firms who won contracts with the Scottish Government had also been involved in offering hospitality to Scottish Government officials & Civil Servants, was published after an investigation by popular Scots law blog ‘Diary of Injustice’, HERE

BBC News reported First Minister Alex Salmond said last week he ‘regretted’ supporting Goodwin in the past, however there was no one at the Scottish Government to respond to questions on why Scottish Ministers should be awarding law firms who are dealing in potential tax avoidance schemes huge public funded contracts. Mr Goodwin was also not available for comment.

Agnew gets FOI role, Holyrood msps discuss secret plan ‘to bulldoze FOI decisions database’ in move to wipe past findings by Information Commissioner

Rosemary Agnew ditches lawyer complaints to become Information Commissioner. THE DAY AFTER msps at the Scottish Parliament unanimously approved the appointment of a lawyer complaints boss Rosemary Agnew as the new Scottish Information Commissioner, Holyrood insiders have spilled the beans on a SECRET PLAN discussed by msps who are suspicious of Freedom of Information laws TO WIPE the current itspublicknowledge website of the Scottish Information Commissioner including all of the outgoing Commissioner Kevin Dunion’s previous decisions and replace it with a new website in what is described by one Scottish Parliament employee as “a bid to bring relief for some at Holyrood and give Rosemary a clean slate”.

A whistle-blowing member of staff at the Scottish Parliament who has been involved in the secret discussions for the website redesign told Scottish Law Reporter this morning the secret plan to wipe all decisions was being discussed between only a few msps amid concerns of protests from the public & media over the content of Mr Dunion’s current website and all previous decisions being lost or being made deliberately difficult for members of the public to access in any replacement website.

The insider confirmed : “The plan being discussed is for the entire FOI website to be taken offline while officials & msps argue over the redesign which ‘may’ archive only short summaries of selected cases or more probably remove all content of Mr Dunion’s previous investigations & decisions to give the new Scottish Information Commissioner a fresh start.”

The source continued : “So you can expect to see decisions such as the one revealing the SPCB’s attempt to cover up MSP David McLetchie’s theft of expenses for taxi journeys to be deleted from public view. I’m sure he and the Scottish Conservatives will be very happy at this prospect, as will a few other msps caught out by Mr Dunion’s decisions on poorly handled foi requests.”

Before & After Dunion ? MSPs plan to delete all previous decisions on Info Commissioner’s website. Many of Mr Dunion’s decisions on cases brought to his attention during his two terms of office serving as Scotland’s Information Commissioner since 2002, have revealed scandals involving politicians expenses, hospital deaths, failings of Police Forces around the country, failures of the justice system including Scotland’s Prosecutors & justice bodies such as the Crown Office, and Rosemary Agnew’s current employment base, the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission which has been investigated on at least TWENTY OCCASIONS by the Scottish Information Commissioner and his team, with most decisions going against the SLCC during Agnew’s term as Head of Investigations and then its Chief Executive.

Further decisions of Mr Dunion and his investigations team have led to exposures of scandals involving local authorities & the Scottish Government, with some cases bitterly fought in the courts by lawyers acting for the Scottish Government in attempts to block publication of material sought by members of the public & media.

An insider said today “It will be a disaster for openness & transparency if msps went ahead and bulldozed Mr Dunion’s entire work over the past decade.”

A law reform campaigner speaking to Scottish Law Reporter earlier today said : “Msps and the Scottish Government must be preparing to hide something big to appoint someone with a record of being anti-foi. What are the big political issues around just now ? independence referendum and a crap justice system with more criminals in it than outside it .. couldn't be a coincidence of course.”

Internal notes on discussions on the planned changes to the Information Commissioner’s current website shown to a journalist staggeringly reveal one msp wants the new website to be handled by the same team who handled the ‘redesign’ of the Scottish Parliament’s E-Petitions website, which has been purposely kept offline for nearly a year out of fears football fans may use it to lodge e-petitions to challenge the Scottish Government’s controversial anti bigotry law, the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill. Scottish Law Reporter covered the year long loss of the E-Petitions website due to sectarian fears, HERE

Meanwhile, msps were at pains to portray their choice of Information Commissioner, Ms Agnew as a step in the right direction.

Justice Committee Convener Christine Grahame Christine Grahame MSP who has been caught out before via foi requests and was recently accused by a former employee of allegedly making sectarian jibes against fellow msps and alleged expenses fiddling, released a statement on Agnew’s appointment claiming : "The commissioner's role is an important one. The commissioner is responsible for enforcing and promoting Scotland's freedom of information laws which give people anywhere in the world access to information held by more than 10,000 public authorities in Scotland."

She added: "Rosemary Agnew will bring to the post a range of skills and experience, including an understanding of the challenges freedom of information presents to those seeking and providing information. I believe Rosemary Agnew will prove to be an effective and fair commissioner who will bring to the post enthusiasm and a determination to continue to ensure that the freedom of information regime in Scotland remains highly regarded throughout the world."

Christine Grahame also sat on the secret closed-to-the-public all women msp only selection panel which gave Agnew the £78,000 a year plus expenses job for a SIX YEAR TERM. Grahame introduced the motion in the Parliament herself to require msps to vote for her choice. “S4M-01865 Christine Grahame on behalf of the Selection Panel: Appointment of the Scottish Information Commissioner—That the Parliament nominates Rosemary Agnew to Her Majesty The Queen, for appointment as the Scottish Information Commissioner.”

Carole Ewart, co-convener of the Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland said: "We congratulate Ms Agnew on her appointment, and look forward to continuing working with the Commissioner's office to develop and promote this important legislation. The Scottish Information Commissioner is a key figure in the success of FOI and, as FOI is at a pivotal stage in Scotland, we would like to see her continuing the positive developments her predecessor has established."

A journalist from a national newspaper branded the comments by msps & alleged FOI campaigners as “barmy” and pointed to the number of decisions taken by the Scottish Information Commissioner “to rebuke” Agnew’s handling of FOI requests as evidence the incumbent for Mr Dunion’s job appears to be anti-foi and against transparency & accountability.

Whether Ms Agnew chooses to promote Freedom of Information by continuing Mr Dunion’s demands for FOI to be safeguarded & expanded, or simply decides to allow public bodies, politicians and others to keep their secrets to themselves, remains to be seen.

STATE SECRET ? Investigation reveals First Minister & Scottish Govt “have much to hide” over ‘Dame’ knighthood for ex-Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini

Something to hide about the honour, Mr First Minister ? INFORMATION likely to implicate Scottish Ministers & other figures in the Scottish Government involved in the awarding of ‘Dame’, the female equivalent of a “knighthood” to the Scotland’s former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini DBE QC (nee McPhilomy), has been angrily withheld from Freedom of Information requests by Scottish Government Civil Servants, after leaks to the media suggested Scottish Ministers were involved “via the backdoor” in ensuring recommendations were made to London that the controversial former Lord Advocate received a knighthood for ‘her services’ to Scots law. Almost instantaneously after receiving the honour Dame Elish Angiolini was swiftly taken on by the First Minister Alex Salmond as his Ministerial Complaints Adviser in a role seen by most as little more than an exercise to ensure Scottish Ministers are not found guilty of misconduct while in office.

Several leading figures in Scotland’s legal establishment questioned the decision to give the controversial, former Lord Advocate a knighthood while other senior legal figures connected to the Lockerbie case have condemned Dame Angiolini’s tenure as Lord Advocate as "a disastrous experiment” a period which saw some high profile disasters for Scotland’s Crown Office including the collapse of the World's End murder prosecution where the Chief Prosecutor for the Lord Advocate ran away from the court, and judges criticised the handling of the prosecution, a scandal ranking high among other notable case losses, injustice & controversies including huge bonus payments made to Crown Office officials under Angiolini’s tenure as Lord Advocate.

However, it can also be revealed today the Scottish Government’s refusal to release the information on who made the recommendation to give the former Lord Advocate the honour, only came about after the Scottish Information Commissioner became involved in the case, after a journalist complained the Scottish Government HAD REFUSED to acknowledge or even reply to repeated requests for information.

A response from the Scottish Government to a Freedom of Information request by a journalist investigating the award who asked for “information & discussions on the awarding of (and any proposal to recommend) the dame-hood(OBE) of former Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini, and the identify of who in the Scottish Government recommended her for the honour” stated :

“We do endeavour to provide information whenever possible. However, in this instance an exemption under section 41(b) of FOISA applies to the information requested. This exemption applies because the information relates to the exercise by Her Majesty of Her prerogative of honour.

As the exemption is conditional we have applied the 'public interest test'. This means we have, in all the circumstances of this case, considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption.

Whilst we acknowledge the legitimate public interest in information relating to Honours, in our judgement this is outweighed by the significant and greater public interest in preserving the integrity of the process by which people are nominated for honours. The Honours process relies on those involved being free to fully express their views, allowing for discussion and deliberation, confident that their involvement and views will not be made public. If this expectation of confidence is breached, people will be more circumspect and much less likely to give frank views, thereby weakening the integrity of the Honours system.

Disclosure may also make it more likely that prospective recipients will choose to refuse an award in the knowledge that views expressed during the consideration process might be made public. This protection of confidence is of equal importance for those considered for, but not awarded, an Honour.

Honours are a matter reserved to the UK Government and the Civil Service in Scotland deals with Honours under Cabinet Office guidance. When supporting the honours process, civil servants are acting in the service of Her Majesty the Queen in whose name awards are made. Since 2007 the First Minister and all other Scottish Government Ministers have chosen to have no role in any part of the Honours process. Nominations are processed by Civil Servant officials on the basis of UK Cabinet Office guidance and without reference to Scottish Ministers.”

Critics of the award to the former Lord Advocate today called for a full disclose of the information & discussions on who at the Scottish Government put Dame Angiolini forward for the award, saying “If they have nothing to hide, they have nothing to fear”.

During the time of Elish Angiolini’s tenure as Lord Advocate, she employed a private law firm based in Glasgow LEVY MCRAE, which operates for clients in the notorious tax avoidance haven of the Cayman Islands and who also represented shamed former Glasgow City Council Boss & Cocaine addict Steven Purcell to “go after” an anti abuse campaigner named Robert Green. The law firm employed by Angiolini threatened several media outlets with legal action over reporting of the Hollie Greig case and Green’s campaign to out the alleged abusers, while Scottish Ministers further covered up, refusing to disclose who funded the work carried out by law firms on Angiolini’s behalf and that of others linked to accusations in the case.

After further investigations into the prosecution of Robert Green, ordered by the Crown Office under Angiolini’s tenure as Lord Advocate, it later transpired the Crown Office, Police & other public bodies have spent at least £1/2 MILLION of taxpayers money going after the anti abuse campaigner, who was recently found guilty of committing a breach of the peace just because he was ‘handing out leaflets’ asking for an investigation into claims a downs syndrome girl had been abused in Aberdeen.

Curiously, while the Scottish Government adamantly refused to release any information on the controversial recommendation for the former Lord Advocate’s knighthood, hiding behind UK Cabinet Guidance & also using the grounds secrecy was of the utmost importance, a different stance was adopted on another honours issue after accusations were raised of involvement by the First Minister in recommending SNP Party donor Brian Souter for a knighthood.

In the Souter honour case, Dame Angiolini’s Ministerial Complaints Adviser colleague, another former Lord Advocate, Lord Fraser of Carmyllie was brought in to author a report which swiftly exonerated the First Minister and led to lengthy Press Releases from the Scottish Government denying any involvement on Scottish Minister’s part (which no one really believed – Ed)

Lord Fraser of Carmylie is of course widely known for being arrested on an aircraft after an alleged “air rage” incident, reported by SLR HERE

Sources have told Scottish Law Reporter today that the Scottish Information Commissioner, Kevin Dunion has been asked to look into the Scottish Government's refusal to release the information on the honour for the former Lord Advocate.

Profile : Former Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini :

Former Lord Advocate now Dame Elish Angiolini employed Cayman Islands hopping lawyers from Glasgow. Reporting on the background of the case, Robert Green was arrested by Police on 12th February 2010 in relation to a breach of the peace alleged to have been committed in Aberdeen when Mr Green attempted to hand out leaflets regarding the anti-abuse campaign. It was also revealed the then Lord Advocate, now Dame Elish Angiolini had employed private law firm Levy McRae to serve interdicts on Mr Green in connection with his campaign to ‘out’ alleged abusers of downs syndrome victim Hollie Greig. Glasgow law firm Levy McRae who later represented shamed former Glasgow City Council Boss & Cocaine addict Steven Purcell, proceeded to threaten several media outlets & journalists over their reporting of the case, covered by Scottish Law Reporter HERE & HERE. The Purcell scandal caused some newspapers to ‘evaluate’ their relationship with Levy McRae, details of which were featured in a report here : HERE

Anti-abuse campaigner found guilty of Breach of the peace in £1/2 Million Crown Office “VENDETTA” trial to silence Hollie Greig rape abuse claims

A breach of the Peace “Vendetta” trial against anti-abuse campaigner Robert Green results in a guilty verdict. SCOTLAND’S most expensive ever Breach of the Peace trial against ant-abuse campaigner & journalist Robert Green has resulted in an expected guilty verdict in relation to the arrest of the campaigner in February 2010 by officers from Grampian Police, apparently on orders from the Crown Office in Edinburgh. Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen handed down the verdict after hearing evidence from over twenty witnesses lasting nearly two weeks, however the Sheriff Principal suspiciously blocked Mr Green’s defence counsel’s attempts to call former Lord Advocate, now Dame Elish Angiolini DBE QC and now Ministerial complaints adviser to Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond as a witness, leading to feelings the legal establishment were shielding their own from the administration of justice.

The former Lord Advocate’s actions were claimed to be central to the whole case against Mr Green, who was arrested in Aberdeen after he attempted to hand out leaflets documenting the claims surrounding the case of Hollie Greig, a downs syndrome victim who is alleged to have been abused by an Aberdeen based paedophile gang.

Throughout proceedings legal observers were never in any doubt the Crown Office had clearly been pursuing a bitter VENDETTA against Mr Green and the Greig family, after they had identified senior legal figures from the Crown Office & the judiciary in allegations relating to child abuse. A legal insider who was directly aware of events in the trial told Scottish Law Reporter “The Sheriff played only a minor role in the trial as the guilty verdict was effectively decided by the Crown Office as soon as they arrested Mr Green in 2010.”

The insider went onto say at no time was there ever any possibility the former Lord Advocate  would have been called to be a witness, commenting “…no Sheriff who wants to keep his job will ever allow such a senior establishment figure to be cross examined in the witness box.”

Earlier in the pre-trial hearings, the Crown Office had gone so far as to privately brief a journalist Mr Green was going to plead guilty, preparing a series of draft Press Releases which had to be destroyed after the accused broke with his former legal team who, coincidentally, were also attempting to persuade Mr Green to plead guilty, reported earlier HERE.

The case against Robert Green has proved a revelation for the Scots legal system, linking up the actions of a former Lord Advocate with a private law firm, LEVY MCRAE who have hit the headlines plenty themselves. The case also drew out links between that same law firm and the current Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, who worked at the law firm for a number of years. Much has yet to come out about the relationships & actions of some of the key players in the case however one thing is for sure, Scotland’s prosecution system is now viewed more than ever as Institutionally corrupt.

The record costs of the Crown Office’ prosecution for a single Breach of the Peace, dubbed by legal insiders a “Three year private vendetta bankrolled by taxpayers against Robert Green & abuse victims” were revealed when Scottish Law Reporter earlier reported pre-trial costs had already risen to around HALF A MILLION POUNDS, after factoring in the expenses of THIRTEEN earlier hearings at Stonehaven Sheriff Court, 15,000 travel miles for the accused, hugely expensive legal bills generated by private law firms hired by officials which appear to have been paid for out of public funds, rising legal aid fees, trips by Grampian Police Officers to England to search & raid homes & seize property including computers & documents, Crown Office staff being flown into Aberdeen especially for the case, and the costs to the Crown of ‘consulting & maintain’ a witness list which has varied in numbers, at one stage totalling SIXTY ONE persons, of which less than half were called.

Sentence against Mr Green will be handed down on 17 February 2012 at 10.30am (I’m sure COPFS will have made a few suggestions on that too – Ed)

A reminder of previous events in the trial of Mr Green can be viewed in earlier coverage by Scottish Law Reporter HERE

Former Lord Advocate now Dame Elish Angiolini employed Cayman Islands hopping lawyers from Glasgow. Reporting on the background of the case, Robert Green was arrested by Police on 12th February 2010 in relation to a breach of the peace alleged to have been committed in Aberdeen when Mr Green attempted to hand out leaflets regarding the anti-abuse campaign. It was also revealed the then Lord Advocate, now Dame Elish Angiolini had employed private law firm Levy McRae to serve interdicts on Mr Green in connection with his campaign to ‘out’ alleged abusers of downs syndrome victim Hollie Greig. Glasgow law firm Levy McRae who later represented shamed former Glasgow City Council Boss & Cocaine addict Steven Purcell, proceeded to threaten several media outlets & journalists over their reporting of the case, covered by Scottish Law Reporter HERE & HERE. The Purcell scandal caused some newspapers to ‘evaluate’ their relationship with Levy McRae, details of which were featured in a report here : HERE

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill worked at, has ties to same law firm used by then Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini in interdict case. As details of the case began to be reported in the wider press, it emerged the Scottish Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill had links to LEVY MCRAE, the law firm employed by the then Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini in legal action against Mr Green. Mr MacAskill has made no comment on the fact he served his apprenticeship at Levy McRae and also worked at the firm for a considerable time during his years as a solicitor before he entered politics, while he is thought to have backed Dame Angiolini in her actions at the time. The revelations were reported by Scottish Law Reporter at the time, HERE.

More on the Hollie Greig case can be viewed at Hollie Demands Justice.org and Mr Green’s own blog HERE

Arrests in England over Police payments, Scotland to follow? We reveal Crooked Scots Cops, Prosecutors ALSO sold info & services for CASH BUNGS

Cash for hacking - Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland in need of someone to arrest, just as long as it’s not a colleague, a lawyer or a Police Officer WHILE arrests have finally been made today in England & Wales after investigations into payments to Police Officers by journalists, campaigners for openness in Scotland are now beginning to question why no substantive investigations have taken place into similar actions north of the border where corrupt Police Officers working in various Scottish Police Forces and it is alleged, employees of the Scottish Courts Service and Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) have taken CASH BUNGS or “other forms of payments” from journalists, private investigators & high profile lawyers for information on individuals which includes private financial details, personal & medical files and much more.

In one bizarre case brought to the attention of Scottish Law Reporter by a journalist, even a senior detective in Lothian & Borders Police appears to have fallen victim to creepy backhander-cash-for-info scandals where a lesser rank detective in his team “grassed up” his Detective Chief Inspector boss to Scottish tabloids over an ‘extra-marital affair love tryst with a crime victim’ saga. The DCI was forced to retire in humiliation after the ‘love affair’ scandal hit the headlines. The lesser ranking detective who sold the story to the tabloid appears to have received “a substantial sum of money” although the episode apparently did little for his career prospects.

The case of the senior detective sold-out-for-cash appears to have taken some strange turns, made all the worse after evidence emerged that a bizarre “turf war” between detectives including the one who sold out his boss, & local uniformed officers within the division of Lothian & Borders Police ended up destroying a costly year long drugs surveillance operation in a small Borders town, where one family was known to have been dealing in & selling large quantities of drugs to all age groups including school children. A more in-depth report on this case is to follow.

Another case being looked into by an independent journalist has revealed more payments to cops on where material gathered on “target individuals” such as lists of phone calls, council & medical records & other information was handed over to a lawyer from a well known law firm which is known to have represented now former senior law officers in the Crown Office. The information, which was exchanged for a substantial sum of money, appears to have been gained by serving Police Officers and officials working at Scotland’s Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).

In another instance, at least one Police Officer is alleged to be on the payroll of a private law firm which has a senior partner who is also a serving Sheriff. In a case previously reported by Scottish Law Reporter, one particular firm used a Police Officer to threaten tradesmen who were seeking to recover debts from a serving advocate who is a client & friend of the serving sheriff. The Police Officer, who threatened a tradesman with arrest “if he didn't shut up about the debts” is suspected of receiving payment for his actions on behalf of the sheriff.

In a case which appears to implicate staff working for the Scottish Court Service, information on a private individual including personal statements appears to have been shared by SCS staff with a law firm, again on a cash for access basis.

No action appears to have been taken in any of the above examples, even though the cases, in which money has changed hands on each occasion, are now well known to senior officers and senior figures in Scotland’s judiciary.

While BBC News reports on the arrests in England & Wales, insiders say expect no arrests in Scotland …

Operation Elveden: Five held in police payment probe

Four former and current Sun journalists and a police officer have been arrested by detectives investigating payments made to police by journalists. Scotland Yard said the men, aged 29 to 56, were arrested at addresses in London and Essex earlier. The 29-year-old, a serving officer in the Metropolitan Police's Territorial Policing Command, was arrested at his work - a central London police station.

News Corporation said it would continue to pursue "legitimate journalism". Offices at News International in Wapping are currently being searched. The BBC understands the arrested journalists are ex-deputy editor Fergus Shanahan, ex-managing editor Graham Dudman, crime editor Mike Sullivan and head of news Chris Pharo.

The Met said the arrests, part of Operation Elveden, were prompted by information given to police by News Corporation. A BBC source said this was an effort aimed at "draining the swamp" so as to restore journalistic integrity at News International titles.

News Corporation and its Management and Standards Committee (MSC) issued a statement following the arrests saying it had made a commitment last summer that unacceptable news gathering practices by individuals in the past would not be repeated. "It commissioned the management and standards committee to undertake a review of all News International titles, regardless of cost, and to proactively co-operate with law enforcement and other authorities if potentially relevant information arose at those titles. "As a result of that review, which is ongoing, the MSC provided information to the Elveden investigation which led to today's arrests."

News Corporation also said it would "continue to give its total support to the continued work of the MSC and to ensure that legitimate journalism is vigorously pursued in both the public interest and in full compliance with the law".

Operation Elveden is supervised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and is being run in conjunction with Operation Weeting, Scotland Yard's inquiry into phone hacking by the now-closed News of the World. A spokesman said Saturday's arrests and searches related to suspected payments to officers and was not about seeking journalists to reveal their sources regarding information obtained legitimately.

The police have said that two men, aged 48 and 56, were arrested at their homes in Essex. A second 48-year-old man was detained at his home in north London. Officers are searching their homes. A fourth man, aged 42, was arrested at 11am when he attended an east London police station. All were being questioned on suspicion of corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906, aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office and conspiracy in relation to both offences.

The fifth man to be arrested, a 42-year-old man attended an east London police station on Saturday morning. He was arrested on suspicion of corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906, aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office and conspiracy in relation to both these offences. The officer was being held on suspicion of corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906, misconduct in a public office, as well as conspiracy in relation to both offences. His home was also being searched. Scotland Yard said the searches were expected to continue into Saturday afternoon.

The officer was the second serving officer to be arrested as part of Operation Elveden. The first, a 52-year-old woman, was arrested last month and bailed, police said. A total of 13 people have now been arrested as part of the inquiry. Twelve were arrested by the Met and the thirteenth by the IPCC.

IPCC deputy chair Deborah Glass said she was satisfied with the "strenuous efforts being made by this investigation to identify police officers who may have taken corrupt payments".

She said she had considered the IPCC's role and whether to use its powers directly in relation to the latest suspects, but said "given the interlocking nature of the investigation and arrests which do not just involve police officers, I believe the priority is not around whose powers should be used, but for an effective investigation that brings wrongdoers to justice. "While we continue to provide a supervisory role across Operation Elveden, I will consider each referral on its own merit and we will investigate independently if appropriate."

Among those questioned during the inquiries were former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks, ex-Downing Street communications chief Andy Coulson, former News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner, the paper's former royal editor Clive Goodman, and its former crime editor Lucy Panton.

The total number of people arrested in the inquiries now stands at 27. Two were released without further action, and 21 remain on police bail.