The Independent's Johann Hari returns Orwell Prize after plagiarism probe
Glasgow-born journalist Johann Hari is handing back a top writing award after an investigation into allegations he plagiarised quotes in his articles.
Hari was suspended two months ago while The Independent newspaper investigated claims against him.
BBC News claims Hari has admitted "embellishment of quotations/plagiarism" and of using a pseudonym to attack critics online.
He will return the Orwell Prize and take four months' unpaid leave as well as taking a journalism course.
In an online statement, according to the BBC, the journalist apologised to his readers, colleagues and "the people hurt by my actions".
"Although it has been a really painful process and will surely continue to be for some time, I think in the end I'll be grateful my flaws have also been dragged into the light in this way," he said.
Hari admitted he had created a false username on Wikipedia to edit parts of his profile he did not like and also changed other people's profiles.
He said he stood by the articles that won him the prestigious Orwell Prize but was returning it as "an act of contrition" for his other mistakes.
"But this isn't much, since it has been reported that they are minded to take it away anyway," he added.
Independent editor Chris Blackhurst announced on July 12 that the newspaper's co-founder, Andreas Whittam Smith, was conducting an internal investigation into the claims against Hari.
Hari, who was born in Glasgow but grew up in London, has also written for the New York Times, Le Monde, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and the Sydney Morning Herald.