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News Corp. Reels as Rebekah Brooks Indicted in Hacking Scandal

Posted by Sheila Shayon on May 15, 2012 11:02 AM

The buck has stopped – or on this case, the pound — as the first criminal charges have been filed in the phone hacking inquiry that has been rocking UK (and global) media circles. Rebekah Brooks, former CEO of Rupert Murdoch's News International, will face criminal charges over the phone hacking scandal.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) charges that Brooks, who was arrested in March and revealed last week she's so close to British Prime Minister David Cameron that they text each other, "conspired with her husband, Charles Brooks, and others to pervert the course of justice," by alleged attempts to conceal or remove evidence relevant to police investigation into the hacking and corruption scandals known as Operation Weeting launched in January 2011 at the News of the World and the Sun tabloids.

It’s a stunning reversal for one of Britain’s most powerful woman, a Murdoch confidante, and additional oversight of all his newspapers in the U.S. as well — not to mention the latest black eye for News Corp.'s corporate reputation.

It was last July, days before the scandal broke, when a London apartment worker found a laptop, phone and documents stuffed into a garbage bag in a trash can outside the Brooks’ flat. Charlie Brooks tried to retrieve the goods from police, saying they accidentally wound up in the trash and had nothing to do with his wife.

In response to today's police charges, the Brooks issued a joint statement saying "We deplore this weak and unjust decision. After the further unprecedented posturing of the CPS we will respond later today after our return from the police station."

Four others have also been indicted:

  • Cheryl Carter – Personal assistant
  • Mark Hanna - Current head of Security at News International
  • Paul Edwards - The Brooks family chauffeur, on the News International payroll
  • Daryl Jorsling and a seventh suspect - both of whom provided security for Brooks and were supplied by News International.

Alison Levitt, the chief adviser to the Director of Public Prosecutions said “There is sufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction,” adding that no charges will be brought against the unnamed seventh person who had been under investigation.

Brooks began her career as a secretary at the News of the World and thrived in the highly competitive Murdoch culture, becoming editor at age 31 and three years later, in 2003, also editor of the Sun. She was at the helm when the first hacking into 13 year-old Milly Dowler’s phone began – which ultimately toppled the Murdoch empire.

She became so important to Rupert Murdoch that he practically considered her one of his children, and an heir apparent. When asked during the height of the scandal what his top priority was, he pointed to Brooks and said, "this one."

The former top editor in Murdoch's British tabloid empire was named chief executive of News International in 2009, resigning in July 2011, days before she was first arrested.

The Brooks and the other four alleged conspirators are the first to be charged as a result of the latest Scotland Yard investigation into phone hacking. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life, with the average term served 10 months.

Below are the charges, from the Crown Prosecution Service:

CHARGE 1 - CONSPIRACY TO PERVERT THE COURSE OF JUSTICE

Rebekah Brooks between 6th July and 19th July 2011 conspired with Charles Brooks, Cheryl Carter, Mark Hanna, Paul Edwards, Daryl Jorsling and persons unknown to conceal material from officers of the Metropolitan Police Service.

CHARGE 2 - CONSPIRACY TO PERVERT THE COURSE OF JUSTICE

CHARGE 3 - CONSPIRACY TO PERVERT THE COURSE OF JUSTICE

Rebekah Brooks, Charles Brooks, Mark Hanna, Paul Edwards and Daryl Jorsling conspired together and with persons unknown, between 15th July and 19th July 2011, to conceal documents, computers and other electronic equipment from officers of the Metropolitan Police Service.

Below, a look back at the events of last July, recounted by Alan Rusbridger, editor of The Guardian newspaper, which covered and broke much of the phone-hacking scandal:

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May 17, 2012 02:39 AM #

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