Under national police guidelines there is a presumption that images of convicted criminals will be released upon conviction unless there is an overriding reason for not doing so. [11], In 1999, after a Mahmood investigation exposed the Earl of Hardwicke and another man as drug dealers,[42] the jury sent a note to the judge explaining that they had reached their decision to convict the two men with great reluctance. Victims of 'Fake sheikh' Mazher Mahmood packed out the public gallery to see him jailed for tampering with evidence in the Tulisa drugs trial. 'Fake Sheikh' Mazher Mahmood is facing jail for tampering with evidence in the collapsed drugs trial of popstar Tulisa Contostavlos. What Majeed doesn’t know is that Khan’s real name is Mazher Mahmood and that he is an undercover investigative reporter for the News of the World. even though they showed no respect for the privacy of others in their quest for tabloid trash stories. [17] One of the men involved later sued the News of the World for libel and won. Gashi claimed Mazher Mahmood was complicit with him in inventing the kidnapping plot. They also wanted their privacy respected, seemingly without irony. To support this position, he called a former Mahmood associate, Florim Gashi, who told the court he helped the reporter "make up stories for his newspaper".[13]. ... they have released details of … Jeremy Dein QC, for the defence, accused Mahmood of active duplicity in some stories. [citation needed], On 4 December 2014, the Crown Prosecution Service investigated 25 cases where Mahmood gave evidence. First published on Fri 21 Oct 2016 06.33 EDT Undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood has been jailed for 15 months after being found guiltyof tampering … "[15], Galloway wrote to Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police commissioner and Michael Martin, the Speaker of the House of Commons about the incident. Mahmood was the subject of BBC television Panorama investigation. Mazher Mahmood leaves the Old Bailey Courthouse (Image: REUTERS). He spent 20 years working for the News of the World and the Sunday Times,[1] during which time he was responsible for numerous investigations,[2] including a reputed 94 that led to convictions. Mahmood’s own paper, The Sun, published a photo of him today with his face clearly visible apparently taken by a freelance outside court. Mahmood, whose elaborate disguises have duped criminals, celebrities, sporting figures and even … Mahmood has always previously fought hard to protect his identity claiming that publication of his photo would put himself and his family in danger. In a statement, Mr Varey said: “On 10 May 2013 in the course of seeking to entrap Tulisa, Mazher Mahmood supplied Tulisa, me and others with a lot of alcohol… [55] on 20 November 2015. Fake Sheikh Mazher Mahmood is facing jail and a string of multimillion-pound lawsuits after being found guilty of tampering with evidence in the collapsed drugs trial of pop star Tulisa Contostavlos. [37], Mahmood's name came under the limelight once again when, in August 2010, he posed as an Indian businessman to expose the cricket bookie Mazhar Majeed who claimed Pakistani cricketers Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal had committed spot-fixing during Pakistan's 2010 tour of England; the team was accused of deliberately bowling three no-balls, in an incident that veteran Richie Benaud described as the most distressing revelation in his 52 years of watching cricket. Mahmood became known popularly as the "fake sheikh" because he often posed as a sheikh during the course of his investigations. [6][58], Mahmood has won various newspaper awards, including British Press Awards "Reporter of the Year" 1999 for his exposé of Newcastle United directors. Before his conviction, he worked mainly for the tabloid press. A list of Profile episodes and clips related to "Mazher Mahmood". It is said that written into his contract was a clause stating that his photograph would not be published. [21] Galloway said he had put off the meeting for several weeks and was suspicious from the beginning. 'Fake Sheikh' Mazher Mahmood and driver found guilty at Old Bailey. [citation needed] In 2016 Eriksson was reported to be suing Mahmood for having cost him his job. Management for music producer Simon Cowell have released a statement refuting claims made during N Dubz Tulisa’s trial, that he is gay. Mazher Mahmood, the undercover reporter also known as the "Fake Sheikh" has been jailed for 15 months after been found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice. At that stage I felt the best course of action was just to play along with these guys and get out of Russia. Mazher Mahmood, the News of the World's former star undercover reporter, hired "bodyguards" from the firm of a disgraced private investigator when his … Fake heiress Anna Sorokin released from … The record of undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood - the Fake Sheikh - needs to be re-examined, an ex-attorney general has told Panorama. [43], In 2003, Mahmood was responsible for reporting an alleged plot to kidnap Victoria Beckham to the police. Mahmood's targets include various society figures, including Sophie, Countess of Wessex, in 2001, Princess Michael of Kent in 2005, and Sarah, Duchess of York, in 2010. Press Gazette's weekly email providing strategic insight into the future of the media. [39][40], Mahmood reported the revelations that actor John Alford was supplying cocaine, for which he was imprisoned. [31], Footballer John Fashanu was exposed for alleged match-fixing. [2], Mahmood maintains high levels of secrecy, and said he rarely visited the News International offices. [17], Mahmood's targets include various society figures, including Sophie, Countess of Wessex, in 2001,[18] Princess Michael of Kent in 2005,[19] and Sarah, Duchess of York, in 2010. The gun supplier of Mazher Mahmood’s failed Victoria Beckham kidnap plot was NEVER contacted by Scotland Yard investigating Mahmood in Operation Canopus in 2005 – despite the five defendants spending up to eight months on remand before being released after the case collapsed when it was discovered News of the World had paid the key prosecution witness Florim Gashi £10,000. [35] Higgins subsequently issued a statement denying he had ever been involved in match fixing, and said of the meeting, "I didn't know if this was the Russian mafia or who we were dealing with. Guardian and FT editors call for reflection in industry, Independent and Huffington Post fall for 'parody' Le Pen tweet praising Theresa May speech. Mazher Mahmood (born 22 March 1963) is an undercover British journalist who was convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Mahmood, 53, and Alan Smith, 67, were both found guilty of perverting the course of justice after a two-week long trial at the Old Bailey. Judge Gerald Gordon said Mahmood would serve half his sentence before being released on licence. On the publication of the story on Sunday 2 May, Barry Hearn, Chairman of the WPBSA, immediately suspended Higgins from WPBSA tournaments, promising a full investigation, saying: "Those responsible, if proved, will be dealt with in a very harsh and brutal way. I’m quite sure too that you’re aware of the long-standing commercial relationships between persons suspected of my brother’s murder and the persons involved in setting up the surveillance as named above as well as three other senior NI executives: Andy Coulson, Alex Marunchak and Mazher Mahmood. [34][needs update], In May 2010, Mahmood exposed snooker player John Higgins and his agent Pat Mooney for apparently agreeing to fix the outcome of future individual frames which would not necessarily alter the course of a match. [4], In July 2014, Mahmood was suspended from the Sun on Sunday after a trial collapsed against former X Factor judge and singer Tulisa, with concerns voiced by a judge that Mahmood might have perjured himself. The court heard that Mahmood and Smith conspired to change a statement in the Tulisa Contostavlos drugs trial which cast her in a favourable light. In 1999 he was convicted of supplying drugs to the News of the World undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood, and subsequently imprisoned for nine months. Met Police officer in the case, Detective Constable Jim Morrison, said: “This case is a reminder that perverting the course of justice is a very serious offence that goes to heart of our justice system. Mazher Mahmood’s chances of resurrecting his undercover journalism career were dealt a further blow with the release of his police custody photo … Fashanu claimed that he knew about the sting all along and was only appearing to be corrupt so as to gather evidence for the police. Before his conviction, he worked mainly for the tabloid press.He spent 20 years working for the News of the World and the Sunday Times, [1] during which time he was responsible for numerous investigations, [2] including a reputed 94 that led to … [citation needed], In January 2013, Mahmood was nominated for the Services to Media award at the British Muslim Awards. Twenty-five criminal convictions linked to undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood are being re-examined, the CPS has said. The collapse of the case was so troubling to the presiding judge that it was referred to the then Attorney General Lord Goldsmith who stated, "If a trial collapses, and it collapses because of the alleged wrong doing of a witness, that's a real issue for me". Arrest of Mahmoud Hussein extends a long line of press freedom violations by Egypt, media freedom activists say. The programme also included unseen footage of Mahmood rehearsing with a known drug dealer for the entrapment of former Page 3 model Emma Morgan. Even the Godfather (Murdoch) would not protect his identity. It follows the collapse of … The journalist Mazher Mahmood has been sentenced to 15 months in jail after being convicted of tampering with evidence in the collapsed trial of the singer Tulisa Contostavlos. Your email address will not be published. Undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood is seen in this undated photograph released to Reuters by the Metropolitan Police in London on October 5, 2016. A managing editor at that time, Roy Greenslade, later alleged that Mahmood was dismissed for trying to cover up a mistake. Groups call for release of Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud Hussein. [44][45] Judge Simon Smith referred the News of the World's role in the affair to the Attorney General. Mahmood and Smith were both found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice and both now face jail. In November 2014 he failed to get an injunction against the BBC stopping it publishing grainy undercover footage of him driving. [24][27] The News of the World lost a High Court action to prevent publication of photographs of Mahmood. A list of BBC episodes and clips related to "Mazher Mahmood". [25] Media commentator Roy Greenslade accused Mahmood and the News of the World, in its use of "subterfuge", of adopting practices which "debase journalism. … [15][17], Mahmood discussed criticisms of his methods in televised interview in 2008 with the BBC's Emily Maitlis on The Andrew Marr Show.