'Fake sheikh' undercover Sun reporter Mazher Mahmood charged with conspiracy to pervert course of justice
Undercover Sun reporter Mazher Mahmood, known as the "fake sheikh", has been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in the trial which led to the arrest of singer Tulisa Contostavlos.
Mahmood served as a witness in the collapsed trial and was behind a June 2013 Sun on Sunday article which accused the 27 year-old former N-Dubz singer of brokering a cocaine deal.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has charged Mahmood and his driver Alan Smith with misleading the court during the trial by changing their statements to police.
The former News of the World journalist, who often posed undercover as a sheikh during his investigations, said in a statement issued by his lawyers that he denied the offence and would "vigorously contest it at court".
He added he was: “deeply disappointed that, after a totally unjustified delay, the Crown Prosecution Service have today informed me that they have decided to charge me with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice”.
In June this year the Metropolitan police submitted a file to the CPS on its investigation into Mahmood’s actions during the trial in which they alleged that he changed his statements given to police.
Deputy head of special crime at the CPS, Nick Vamos, announced the charges and said: “After carefully considering all of the evidence the CPS has decided that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to charge both men”.
Vamos said the decision came after Smith agreed with Mahmood to change his statement to police as part of a trial in July 2014, and that Mr Mahmood then misled the court.
News UK said in a statement: "We note the decision of the CPS to prosecute Mazher. We will await the outcome of the criminal trial. He remains suspended from The Sun”.
The two are due to appear at Westminster magistrates court on 30 October to face the charges.