A LAWYER has admitted giving a "serious criminal"

A LAWYER has admitted giving a "serious criminal"

a false alibi as police investigated an abduction and attempted extortion.

Solicitor Shahid Pervez told police the man was in his office discussing an insurance claim when the crime was alleged to have been committed.

But at the High Court in Glasgow, the father-of-two, of Langhaul Place, Crookston, admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Judge Lord Hardie, told him he faces a jail sentence, but continued his bail pending sentence next month. He ordered him to find £10,000 and to report to the police twice daily.

Pervez, 39, is no longer practising as a solicitor and will be struck off.

Alex Prentice, prosecuting, said Pervez was a conveyancing lawyer at the firm of Belton Pervez in Victoria Road, Glasgow, when the offence happened.

He said the lawyer was approached by a client who was indicted for a trial alleging charges of abduction, assault and attempted extortion.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, asked the solicitor to provide him with an alibi and Pervez agreed.

A special defence of alibi was lodged by the man's solicitors for the trial, and the Crown instructed police to take statements from Pervez. He made the same statement in a sworn affidavit.

However, after further inquiries, concerns were raised the alibi might have been concocted and police were instructed by the Crown to investigate.

In the meantime, the trial of the man and two others, who also cannot be identified for legal reasons, was adjourned.

When Pervez was interviewed on tape he maintained the alibi statement earlier was true. But later he admitted the man had called him and told him he wanted an alibi.

Mr Prentice said: "According to Pervez he felt intimidated by the man, who was regarded as a serious criminal of some notoriety."

Paul McBride, QC, defending, told Lord Hardie: "It was made abundantly clear if an alibi was not forthcoming that people had been firebombed, stitched and stabbed, and this could happen to his family."