JournalismPakistan.com | Published September 29, 2015
Join our WhatsApp channel
LONDON: Mazher Mahmood, a British journalist whose undercover work posing as a "fake Sheikh" led to a number of high-profile criminal court cases, was charged on Tuesday with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Mahmood, well-known for revealing wrongdoing amongst politicians, TV and film stars and even royalty, was suspended by Rupert Murdoch's Sun newspaper in July last year after the collapse of a celebrity trial in which he was a main witness.
The journalist had given evidence in the drugs trial of Tulisa Contostavlos, a former judge on the British version of the "X Factor" TV talent show.
She had denied being involved in the supply of drugs to Mahmood while he posed as a film producer, but her trial collapsed with the judge saying he suspected the reporter had lied to the court.
Nick Vamos, Deputy Head of Special Crime at Britain's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it was in the public interest to charge Mahmood and another man, Alan Smith.
"This decision comes after it was alleged that Mr Smith agreed with Mr Mahmood to change his statement to police as part of a trial in July 2014, and that Mr Mahmood then misled the court," Vamos said.
Mahmood, who will appear at London's Westminster Magistrates court on Oct. 30, said he denied the charge.
"I will vigorously contest it at court," he said in a statement. "In the meantime I have nothing further to say."
Mahmood previously worked for Murdoch's News of the World tabloid, which the media mogul was forced to shut in 2011 when it was disclosed journalists had hacked voicemails on mobile phones of thousands of people, including that belonging to a murdered schoolgirl, to find exclusive stories.
That led to the jailing of a number of senior staff from the paper including its former editor Andy Coulson.
Rebekah Brooks, who returned this month to run Murdoch's British newspaper arm News UK after a four-year hiatus following the hacking scandal, was acquitted of involvement after a high-profile trial.
She often cited Mahmood's work during her defense as examples of good investigative journalism.
Mahmood carried out the inquiry which led to the 2011 conviction of three Pakistani cricketers for taking bribes to fix incidents in a match against England.
In his most famous exclusive in 2001, he posed as an Arab sheikh to dupe Sophie, Countess of Wessex, who is married to Queen Elizabeth's youngest son Prince Edward, into making indiscreet comments about other members of the royal family and senior politicians.
News UK said it noted the decision to prosecute Mahmood and would await the outcome of the criminal trial.
"He remains suspended from The Sun," a spokeswoman said.- Reuters
January 17, 2025: In an unprecedented breach of judicial protocol, Pakistani journalists accurately revealed Imran Khan's 14-year sentence in the Al-Qadir case on social media 24 hours before the official verdict, raising serious questions about court independence
January 17, 2025: Geo News faces backlash for insensitive coverage of Saif Ali Khan’s stabbing, airing Bollywood song clips before announcing the tragic news
January 17, 2025: An in-depth analysis of ARY News' false reporting on Imran Khan's verdict and the broader crisis of unverified news in Pakistani electronic media, exploring solutions for responsible journalism.
January 16, 2025: The FIA has registered cases against five individuals, including journalist Imran Riaz Khan and PTI leader Shahbaz Gill, for sharing defamatory AI-generated content targeting the UAE President and Punjab Chief Minister. How does this reflect on Pakistan-UAE relations and the misuse of AI?
January 13, 2025: An analysis of Absar Alam's controversial criticism of successful Pakistani YouTubers in exile, examining the intersection of journalism, digital media success, and political persecution, while questioning the credibility of criticism from a former PEMRA chief whose own appointment was declared illegal.
January 13, 2025: Prominent journalist Asma Shirazi faces relentless online harassment in a coordinated campaign involving gendered disinformation. Press freedom groups demand immediate action to protect female journalists in Pakistan.
January 10, 2025: The FIA Cyber Wing is investigating a social media campaign involving AI-manipulated images of Maryam Nawaz and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed. Teams are working to trace the content's origins and identify those involved.
January 05, 2025: JournalismPakistan.com welcomes renowned cricket historian and broadcaster Dr. Nauman Niaz as sports editor, bringing his extensive experience in cricket journalism, broadcasting, and scholarly work to strengthen the platform's sports coverage.
January 16, 2025 Explore the evolution of the ICC Champions Trophy and cricket’s commercialization journey, from a gentleman’s game to a global enterprise. Discover how the ICC balanced tradition with revenue generation.
January 12, 2025 Explore an in-depth analysis of Pakistan cricket's decline in Test matches, examining systemic failures, cultural challenges, and the urgent need for modernization. From mismanagement of talents like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi to resistance against technological advancement, this comprehensive piece investigates how a cricket powerhouse finds itself at a critical crossroads between tradition and progress.
January 09, 2025 Shan Masood's magnificent 145 and a record-breaking opening stand with Babar Azam highlighted Pakistan's valiant fight against South Africa in Cape Town. Despite their resilience, Pakistan fell short, reflecting on deeper cricketing issues.
January 05, 2025 An in-depth analysis of Virat Kohli's recent struggles in Test cricket, examining his technical changes, statistical decline since 2021, and the broader implications for his legacy as one of cricket's greatest batsmen. The article explores whether this is a temporary setback or signals the twilight of an extraordinary career.
January 05, 2025 Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post cartoonist Ann Telnaes resigns after her cartoon depicting media moguls, including Post owner Jeff Bezos, kneeling before Donald Trump was rejected, sparking debate about editorial independence and press freedom.