Former News International CEO Rebekah Brooks and News of the World editor Andy Coulson charged through Operation Elveden
Former News International CEO Rebekah Brooks and News of the World editor Andy Coulson are to be charged with accepting corrupt payments to public officials.
The Crown Prosecution Service has announced that the two will be charged this morning as part of the investigation into phone hacking and the illegal payment of police officers under Operation Elveden.
Five people in total face charges for illegal payments, named as Brooks, Coulson, former NotW royal correspondent Clive Goodman, John Kay, former chief report at The Sun and Bettina Jordan Barber, a former employee of the Ministry of Defence.
Brooks has been charged in relation to allegations of misconduct in public office, alongside Barber and Kay, while Coulson will also face a second allegation of misconduct in public office alongside Goodman.
Alison Levitt QC, principal legal advisor to the director of Public Prosecutions, commented: “This conspiracy relates to information allegedly provided by Bettina Jordan Barber for payment which formed the basis of a series of news stories published by The Sun. It is alleged that approximately £100,000 was paid to Bettina Jordan Barber between 2004 and 2011."
A date has yet to be set for those charged to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, it was explained.