Staff Member at the Crown Office Charged with Breaching Official Secrets Act

A member of staff at Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) is now standing trial after allegedly breaching the Official Secrets Act 1989.

The staff member is alleged to have given out information about an accussed person. Ian Sawers was working in a clerical position at the COPFS office in Edinburgh last August when he allegedly committed the offence.

However, it is believed this is not an isolated incident and it is also alleged that he repeatedly disclosed information illegally to certain indivduals between October 2008 and January 2014. Disclosure of this information is in breach of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Sawers has been accused of providing sensitive information to Calum Stewart who is accused of threatening Kelli Anne Smillie, who gave evidence against him in a previous case.

This threatening behavior was facilitated by the information provided by Mr Sawers. The case is being heard at Edinburgh Sherriff Court with both men pleading not guilty to 13 charges brought against them.

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