Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker has appeared in court to face a series of assault charges.
Walker (70), of Alloa, appeared before Sheriff Craig McSherry at Dunfermline on Thursday to face 15 charges on petition of assault, 13 charges of assault to injury, and one of assault to injury and permanent disfigurement and a breach of the peace.
It is understood the charges relate to allegations dating from between 1967 and the late 1980s.
A spokesman for the Crown Office confirmed afterwards that Walker appeared in private and made no plea or declaration.
The case was continued for further examination and he was released on bail.
Three-times married Mr Walker, now an independent MSP, was expelled by the SNP in April.
Walker appealed against his expulsion from the SNP, but agreed last month to put his appeal on hold until the matters at Dunfermline Sheriff Court are concluded.
The MSP, who is on a £57,500 a year salary, entered politics relatively late, winning a Fife Council seat in 2007, at the age of 65.
A former chartered engineer, he had been an SNP member for nearly 40 years before he was expelled.
He won the Dunfermline seat in the SNP landslide victory by 590 votes.
