Prosecutors have brought the first criminal charges surrounding the infamous News Corp. phone-hacking scandal.
On Tuesday, British authorities charged Rebekah Brooks—the former head of News Corp.’s U.K. newspaper unit, News International—with three counts of conspiring to obstruct justice. Prosecutors also brought charges against Brooks’ husband, Charles; her former assistant; her chauffeur; News International’s head of security; and two of Brooks’ security guards.
According to media reports, prosecutors say Brooks and her co-conspirators concealed documents, computers and other electronic equipment from London police officers when they were investigating the scandal.
“I cannot express my anger enough that those close to me have unfairly been dragged into this,” Brooks said in a statement. “As the details of the case emerge people will see today as an expensive sideshow, and a waste of public money as a result of this weak and unjust decision.”
A preliminary hearing for the six people charged on Tuesday will take place June 13.
Read the Guardian and the Wall Street Journal for more details.
For more InsideCounsel coverage of the News Corp. phone-hacking scandal, read:
News of the World hacked more than 1,000 peoples’ phones
Phone-hacking victims may sue News Corp. in U.S. courts
News Corp. settles hacking claims with 36 victims
Victims get access to evidence in newspaper’s phone hacking scandal
Shareholders accuse News Corp. of corruption and espionage
New details arise in News Corp. phone-hacking scandal
News Corp. shareholders amend complaint to reflect phone-hacking scandal
