LONDON: British Pakistani journalist Mazhar Mahmood Friday has been sentenced to 15 months in jail by a local court.
Earlier this month, he was found guilty of tempering evidence in Pop Star Tulisa Contostavlos’ trial at the Old Bailey.
Mazhar is the one who had trapped Pakistani players Salman Butt, Muhammad Amir and Muhammad Asif, with help from cricket agent Mazhar Majeed, in the spot fixing scandal that rocked Pakistani cricket during England tour six years ago.
Following a two-week trial at the Old Bailey, the 53-year-old undercover reporter and his driver, Alan Smith, 67, were found guilty of plotting to subvert the course of justice through a conspiracy, The News International reported.
The pair conspired to suppress evidence in the former N-Dubz star’s trial, which was thrown out at Southwark Crown Court in July 2014. The jury deliberated for two days in the case and then returned the ‘guilty’ verdict. After the guilty verdict was announced, a lawyer for 18 people, who claimed they were victims of Mahmood’s investigations, revealed they plan to pursue him in civil claims which could top £800 million.
The case was brought against Mahmood after Tulisa was accused of arranging for him to sell £800 cocaine by one of her contacts following an elaborate sting for the Sun on Sunday newspaper in May 2013.
During a meeting at the Metropolitan Hotel in London, Mahmood posed as a film producer and plied Miss Contostavlos with alcohol as they discussed an acting role alongside Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio.
Later on when Smith drove the former X Factor judge home to Hertfordshire, she allegedly spoke about a family member who had a drugs problem. When he was interviewed by police about the journey more than a year later, Smith, of Dereham, Norfolk, recalled the conversation and informed the police that the pop star made anti-drugs comments.
But a day later, after speaking to Mahmood and emailing his draft statement, the singer’s anti-drugs comments were removed, the court heard.
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