i Editor's Letter: Mr Mahmood has given subterfuge a bad name
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
“There are strong grounds for believing Mr Mahmood told me lies.” With those words, Judge Alistair McCreath hammered a stake through one of the most successful and controversial journalists of his generation.
Dozens of scalps hang on the wall of Mazher Mahmood, the “Fake Sheikh” – not least the cricket spot-fixers four years ago – and Inspector Knacker has been happy to work with him to bring prosecutions after his stings. “Maz” once claimed to have brought 261 criminals to justice. (His employers could find evidence for only 94, still an impressive number.) But yesterday the drugs trial of the singer and X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos collapsed, after the judge said he thought prosecution witness Mr Mahmood could not be trusted.
His methods have been questioned in the past – most notably following the acquittal of three men accused of plotting to buy the fictitious substance “red mercury” to build a dirty bomb, as well as after the collapse of the Beckham kidnap trial when it emerged that a key witness had been paid £10,000. But this is the first time he’s been suspended by his employer, Rupert Murdoch’s News UK.
The Crown Prosecution Service will now consider whether or not to launch proceedings against him.
Despite his many successes, Mr Mahmood has given subterfuge a bad name, when it remains a vital and necessary investigative tool. The irony I suppose is that this Tulisa drugs sting was such a rubbish “story”. Celebrity agrees to help procure recreational narcotic lost its capacity to shock circa 1990.
****
See tomorrow’s i for a day-by-day guide to highlights of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. In other news, I’m delighted that i will carry a television column by Grace Dent every Saturday, running in our Arts & Agenda section.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments