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Mazher Mahmood could face perjury investigation after Tulisa trial collapse Mazher Mahmood could face perjury investigation after Tulisa trial collapse
(about 1 hour later)
Police and prosecutors are discussing whether any legal action could follow the collapse of the trial of singer Tulisa Contostavlos, which was abandoned after the judge ruled that the Sun on Sunday's veteran investigative reporter Mazher Mahmood was likely to have lied about talking to another witness about changing their evidence.Police and prosecutors are discussing whether any legal action could follow the collapse of the trial of singer Tulisa Contostavlos, which was abandoned after the judge ruled that the Sun on Sunday's veteran investigative reporter Mazher Mahmood was likely to have lied about talking to another witness about changing their evidence.
The trial judge, Alistair McCreath, has the discretion to write to the director of public prosecutions, Alison Saunders, to suggest that Mahmood should be investigated for possible perjury. It is not known if he will do that and the Crown Prosecution Service said no letter had been received yet.The trial judge, Alistair McCreath, has the discretion to write to the director of public prosecutions, Alison Saunders, to suggest that Mahmood should be investigated for possible perjury. It is not known if he will do that and the Crown Prosecution Service said no letter had been received yet.
A Metropolitan police spokeswoman said the force was in touch with the CPS, but that no decisions had been reached. She said: "We are aware of the court decision and we are in contact with the CPS to consider any response and the next steps to take."A Metropolitan police spokeswoman said the force was in touch with the CPS, but that no decisions had been reached. She said: "We are aware of the court decision and we are in contact with the CPS to consider any response and the next steps to take."
McCreath issued a damning ruling about the actions of Mahmood, better known as the "fake sheikh" after one of his common disguises, as he dismissed the jury at Southwark crown court on Monday morning, a week into Contostavlos's trial for allegedly brokering a cocaine deal.McCreath issued a damning ruling about the actions of Mahmood, better known as the "fake sheikh" after one of his common disguises, as he dismissed the jury at Southwark crown court on Monday morning, a week into Contostavlos's trial for allegedly brokering a cocaine deal.
McCreath said it seems likely that Mahmood had falsely denied, during a pre-trial hearing, that he had pressured his driver about evidence which showed that Contostavlos was opposed to drug use. Mahmood changed his account during cross-examination last Thursday. McCreath said it seemed likely that Mahmood had falsely denied, during a pre-trial hearing, that he had pressured his driver about evidence that showed that Contostavlos was opposed to drug use. Mahmood changed his account during cross-examination last Thursday.
There were "strong grounds for believing Mr Mahmood told me lies" about his dealings with the driver, Alan Smith, the judge said. He added: "Secondly, there are also strong grounds for believing that the underlying purpose of these lies was to conceal the fact that he had been manipulating the evidence in this case by getting Mr Smith to change his account."There were "strong grounds for believing Mr Mahmood told me lies" about his dealings with the driver, Alan Smith, the judge said. He added: "Secondly, there are also strong grounds for believing that the underlying purpose of these lies was to conceal the fact that he had been manipulating the evidence in this case by getting Mr Smith to change his account."
McCreath ended by saying his decision should not "bind any court which may (or may not) be called to consider this matter in a different context", words which seemingly anticipate a possible perjury hearing. McCreath ended by saying his decision should not "bind any court which may (or may not) be called to consider this matter in a different context", words that seemingly anticipate a possible perjury hearing.
Mahmood, who made his name with the News of the World, often dressing up as a rich Arab to persuade the famous, gullible or criminal to divulge their secrets on tape via elaborate subterfuge, has been suspended by the Sun on Sunday pending an investigation.Mahmood, who made his name with the News of the World, often dressing up as a rich Arab to persuade the famous, gullible or criminal to divulge their secrets on tape via elaborate subterfuge, has been suspended by the Sun on Sunday pending an investigation.
His front page story in the Sun on Sunday in June last year accused Contostavlos of arranging an £800 cocaine transaction, with the front page headline "Tulisa's cocaine deal shame". His front-page story in the Sun on Sunday in June last year accused Contostavlos of arranging an £800 cocaine transaction, with the front-page headline "Tulisa's cocaine deal shame".
Contostavlos, 26, insisted throughout that she had been unfairly entrapped by Mahmood, who gained access by posing as a wealthy Bollywood film producer interested in casting the singer as the lead in a major film, purportedly opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and for a supposed fee of more than £3m. She said she had merely been playing up to a "bad girl" role she believed the producers were seeking.Contostavlos, 26, insisted throughout that she had been unfairly entrapped by Mahmood, who gained access by posing as a wealthy Bollywood film producer interested in casting the singer as the lead in a major film, purportedly opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and for a supposed fee of more than £3m. She said she had merely been playing up to a "bad girl" role she believed the producers were seeking.
Her friend and co-defendant, Michael Coombs, a rapper with the stage name Mike GLC, had pleaded guilty to supplying the cocaine to Mahmood, but these charges were also dropped.Her friend and co-defendant, Michael Coombs, a rapper with the stage name Mike GLC, had pleaded guilty to supplying the cocaine to Mahmood, but these charges were also dropped.
After the case was dismissed, Contostavlos condemned "horrific and disgusting entrapment" by Mahmood and his newspaper, which now faces a claim for potentially significant court costs. She said: "Mahmood has now been exposed by my lawyers openly lying to the judge and jury. These lies were told to stop crucial evidence going before the jury." After the case was dismissed, Contostavlos condemned the "horrific and disgusting entrapment" by Mahmood and his newspaper, which faces a claim for potentially significant court costs. She said: "Mahmood has now been exposed by my lawyers openly lying to the judge and jury. These lies were told to stop crucial evidence going before the jury."
Smith had been "pressurised to change his statement to strengthen Mahmood's evidence", Contostavlos said, adding: "Thankfully, the lies have been uncovered and justice has been done."Smith had been "pressurised to change his statement to strengthen Mahmood's evidence", Contostavlos said, adding: "Thankfully, the lies have been uncovered and justice has been done."
The collapse of the trial is a catastrophic result for Mahmood, a paradoxical figure who relishes his high profile while also taking extraordinary measures to avoid being photographed. He was allowed to give evidence in court behind a screen, a courtesy previously extended when he spoke before the Leveson inquiry.The collapse of the trial is a catastrophic result for Mahmood, a paradoxical figure who relishes his high profile while also taking extraordinary measures to avoid being photographed. He was allowed to give evidence in court behind a screen, a courtesy previously extended when he spoke before the Leveson inquiry.
A Sun on Sunday spokesman said the paper took the judge's remarks "very seriously" and had suspended Mahmood. The spokesman added: "We are very disappointed with this outcome, but do believe the original investigation was conducted within the bounds of the law and the industry's code. This was demonstrated by the CPS decision to prosecute."A Sun on Sunday spokesman said the paper took the judge's remarks "very seriously" and had suspended Mahmood. The spokesman added: "We are very disappointed with this outcome, but do believe the original investigation was conducted within the bounds of the law and the industry's code. This was demonstrated by the CPS decision to prosecute."
Using the guise of Samir Khan, Mahmood courted Contostavlos by flying her to Las Vegas for meetings, and also taking her to dine at London's Metropolitan hotel.Using the guise of Samir Khan, Mahmood courted Contostavlos by flying her to Las Vegas for meetings, and also taking her to dine at London's Metropolitan hotel.
After the meal in London, Contostavlos was driven home by Smith and told him that she had seen the terrible impact of drugs and did not approve of them – a conversation he recounted to police.After the meal in London, Contostavlos was driven home by Smith and told him that she had seen the terrible impact of drugs and did not approve of them – a conversation he recounted to police.
At a pre-trial hearing at the end of last month Mahmood denied discussing that statement with Smith, particularly whether the anti-drugs comments might undermine the case. At a pre-trial hearing at the end of last month, Mahmood denied discussing that statement with Smith, particularly whether the anti-drugs comments might undermine the case.
Under cross-examination last Thursday, Mahmood conceded that he had in fact received an emailed copy of the statement three days before the pre-trial hearing and had spoken to Smith about it.Under cross-examination last Thursday, Mahmood conceded that he had in fact received an emailed copy of the statement three days before the pre-trial hearing and had spoken to Smith about it.
This prompted the judge to intervene, saying this apparent manipulation of the evidence meant he had three options: to order a retrial; to allow bad character evidence against Mahmood; or to drop the case entirely.This prompted the judge to intervene, saying this apparent manipulation of the evidence meant he had three options: to order a retrial; to allow bad character evidence against Mahmood; or to drop the case entirely.
After an adjournment until Monday morning, McCreath called the trial off. Mahmood, he told the jury, was key to the case as the "sole progenitor" of the prosecution as well as the only investigator and prosecution witness.After an adjournment until Monday morning, McCreath called the trial off. Mahmood, he told the jury, was key to the case as the "sole progenitor" of the prosecution as well as the only investigator and prosecution witness.
In a thinly veiled condemnation of the Sun on Sunday's tactics, McCreath said Mahmood was "someone who appears to have gone to considerable lengths to get Ms Contostavlos to agree to involve herself in criminal conduct, certainly to far greater lengths than would have been regarded as appropriate had he been a police investigator".In a thinly veiled condemnation of the Sun on Sunday's tactics, McCreath said Mahmood was "someone who appears to have gone to considerable lengths to get Ms Contostavlos to agree to involve herself in criminal conduct, certainly to far greater lengths than would have been regarded as appropriate had he been a police investigator".
The case is yet another blow for News UK and the retrospective reputation of the News of the World. The tabloid was closed in 2011 in the wake of revelations about phone hacking which saw the paper's former editor Andy Coulson jailed earlier this month. The case is yet another blow for News UK and the retrospective reputation of the News of the World. The tabloid was closed in 2011 in the wake of revelations about phone hacking, which led to the paper's former editor Andy Coulson being jailed earlier this month.