Crossword Genius

Official fines follow contrived alibi (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bailiff

'official' is the definition.
(I know that bailiff is a type of official)

'fines follow contrived alibi' is the wordplay.
'fines' becomes 'ff' (an abbreviation for fine written twice).
'follow' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'contrived' indicates an anagram.
'alibi' anagrammed gives 'baili'.
'ff' put after 'baili' is 'BAILIFF'.

(Other definitions for bailiff that I've seen before include "Sheriff's officer - landlord's agent" , "Possibly menacing landlord's agent" , "Officer of court" , "Landlord's agent or steward" , "Landowner's agent" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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