On Friday, a judge has sentenced a British journalist who often posed as a Middle Eastern tycoon in sting operations to 15 months in prison, after the tabloid reporter was convicted of perverting the course of justice in an effort to get scoops.
Mazher Mahmood, 53 who is nicknamed the “Fake Sheikh,” was found guilty for tampering with evidence in a high-profile trial.
The case was of Tulisa Contostavlos, a singer and former judge of the British version of the “X Factor” TV talent show. The journalist, tricked criminals, celebrities, and even royalty, plotted to get his driver to change a police statement during the drugs prosecution of Singer.
The decision came just before the time when, Contostavlos was about to go on trial. She was alleged with charge of supplying cocaine for Mahmood, the self-proclaimed “King of the Sting”.
Some 18 individuals caught out by Mahmood’s stings, are making arrangements to take civil action against him. Also, after such sensational divulge, his earlier strikes are also a stake. They also stand now in circle of suspicion. Lawyers are now planning to review the master shots cases in which his evidence had led to successful criminal prosecutions.
It was his early expeditions only which landed three Pakistani cricketers – Mohammad Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif into trouble. They were under the charges for conspiring bowl no-balls during a Test match at Lord’s in 2010 in return for a share of £150,000. The trio and their agent Mr. Majeed were arrested.
“Mazher has led scores of successful investigations during his 25-year career with the company,” a News UK spokesman said, adding any legal claims would be “vigorously defended”.
“His work has led to the exposure of criminality and wrongdoing. It is a source of great regret that his time with the company should end in this manner.”