STUART KUTTNER, the public face of the News of the World and its most vocal public defender for 22 years, has been arrested by police investigating allegations of phone hacking and of bribing police officers to leak sensitive information.
As managing editor until his resignation in July 2009, Kuttner was in charge of finances at the now-defunct tabloid.
Mr Kuttner (71) was described at the time of his resignation by the last editor of the newspaper, Colin Myler, as a man whose “DNA is absolutely integrated into the newspaper which he has represented across the media with vigour”.
Mr Kuttner reportedly did not know he was going to be taken into custody when he arrived by appointment at a police station in London yesterday at 11am for questioning over the phone-hacking scandal.
Police from both Operation Weeting (the investigation into phone hacking) and Elveden (the investigation into allegations of inappropriate payments to police), are understood to have arrested Mr Kuttner who is suffering health problems and recently returned from the US for treatment.
Mr Kuttner is believed to have been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications, contrary to section 1 (1) Criminal Law Act 1977, and on suspicion of corruption allegations contrary to section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906.
They are the same allegations Rebekah Brooks, the former News of the World editor and ex-News International chief executive, faces since her arrest last month.
When Ms Brooks faced a House of Commons culture, media and sport select committee hearing last month she told MPs that payments to private investigators were the responsibility of the paper’s managing editor’s office.
Ms Brooks admitted using private investigators during her time as editor of the now defunct tabloid between 2000 and 2003 for, she claimed, “purely legitimate” purposes. When asked whether she had ever discussed individual payments to private investigators with Mr Kuttner, she admitted that “payments to private investigators would have gone through the managing editor’s office”. But, she added: “I can’t remember if we ever discussed individual payments.” Mr Kuttner’s role as the public face of the News of the World proved to be key to the tabloid under the editors, Rebekah Brooks and her replacement, Andy Coulson.
No reason was given for Mr Kuttner’s departure from the newspaper two years ago. After being questioned he is expected to be released on bail until October.
– ( Guardianservice)