A prisoner caught with packages of cocaine when he was being remanded has blamed a detective for supplying the drugs, a jury heard yesterday.
Antonio Sabiu, described as a prisoner at Barlinnie, denies being concerned in the supply of the class A drug at Willows, Achintore Road, Fort William, as well as at Fort William Sheriff Court, Inverness Prison and elsewhere in February 2012.
He has also denied failing to appear at Inverness Sheriff Court on February 3, this year.
The 57-year-old, represented by Glasgow lawyer Gerard Sweeney, has lodged a special defence incriminating Detective Sergeant Richard Baird.
Prison officer David Stuart, 28, told the court he was on duty at Inverness Prison on the evening of February 20 waiting for Sabiu to arrive in a prison van from Fort William.
Within minutes of his arrival, Sabiu was seen standing with fists clenched and was asked to open them.
Mr Stuart told fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart: “He was not aggressive, but he was agitated and something was not quite right.
“He brought his arm up towards his mouth and several packages of white powder went over his shoulder and on to the floor. In my opinion, it was an attempt to conceal what he had in his hand in his mouth.
“I stepped forward and took his right arm, my colleague took his other and we went into the search area – a cubicle where a full body search is done.
“He stripped off his clothing and we found six similar packages in his pockets. As we were searching him, he became concerned for his personal safety, saying he had to get the drugs to Shotts Prison because he feared for his life.”
Mr Stuart said the most common way of smuggling contraband into prison to avoid detection was hiding it internally.
The court heard prison officers later found two wraps containing a total of 10g of cocaine in a cell where Sabiu had been placed.
DC Murdo Macdonald, who interviewed Sabiu, said he had denied the drugs belonged to him or that he had bought them, but admitted they were similar to the substance found when he was being admitted.
The trial continues.