Former Scottish First Minister Salmond cleared of sex charges

Former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond gustures as he leaves the High Court in Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain March 23, 2020. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

LONDON (Reuters) - Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, a figurehead of Scotland's independence movement, was cleared on Monday of committing multiple sex offences against nine women after a case that led to divisions in the nationalist movement.

Salmond, 65, was found not guilty by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh of 12 charges including attempted rape, sexual assault and indecent assault. A charge of sexual assault with intent to rape was found not proven.