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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Fake Sheikh': Prosecutors contact historical defendants | 'Fake Sheikh': Prosecutors contact historical defendants |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Crown Prosecution Service is to contact defendants in 25 cases where evidence was given by journalist Mazher Mahmood. | The Crown Prosecution Service is to contact defendants in 25 cases where evidence was given by journalist Mazher Mahmood. |
| They will be provided with a "disclosure pack" which "they may consider undermines the conviction in a specific case," a spokesperson said. | They will be provided with a "disclosure pack" which "they may consider undermines the conviction in a specific case," a spokesperson said. |
| Three live cases where Mr Mahmood - dubbed the Fake Sheikh - was due to give evidence have also been dropped. | Three live cases where Mr Mahmood - dubbed the Fake Sheikh - was due to give evidence have also been dropped. |
| Mr Mahmood has previously said he used legitimate investigatory methods. | Mr Mahmood has previously said he used legitimate investigatory methods. |
| The decision to contact defendants was made after the CPS reviewed prosecutions following the collapse of the trial of former X-Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos in July. | |
| The judge in that case said there were strong grounds for believing that Mr Mahmood had lied at a hearing before the trial started. | |
| Criticism rejected | |
| Subsequently, one of Mr Mahmood's former colleagues at the News of the World claimed they created elaborate stings to target celebrities unfairly. | |
| As a result, former attorney general Lord Goldsmith said Mr Mahmood's record needed to be re-examined. | |
| Mr Mahmood has previously said he has spent his career investigating crime and wrongdoing through legitimate investigatory methods, bringing many individuals to justice. | |
| He said any criticism of him usually came from those he had exposed or people he had worked with who had an "axe to grind". | |
| He is currently suspended from the Sun on Sunday following the collapse of Ms Contostavlos's trial. | |
| A CPS spokesman said on Thursday that no defendants were currently in custody in cases involving Mr Mahmood. | |
| Past cases reviewed | |
| In three live cases, prosecutors decided there was not a realistic prospect of conviction. | |
| The spokesman added: "We are now considering past cases which resulted in a conviction in criminal courts in England and Wales based on evidence provided by Mr Mahmood, and have identified 25 cases. | |
| "As part of this process, over the coming weeks, CPS Areas will be contacting representatives of the defendants - or defendants themselves as necessary - convicted in these cases in order to provide them with a disclosure pack - details of material which they may consider undermines the conviction in a specific case." |