UK police arrest 5 Sun tabloid employees

Last Updated: Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:30:00 +1100

British police have arrested five people at The Sun tabloid newspaper, parent company News Corporation says.

"Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers from Operation Elveden today arrested five employees of The Sun newspaper. Searches have taken place at the homes and offices of those arrested," News Corporation said in a statement on Saturday.

Police said earlier on Saturday they had arrested eight people as part of investigations into illegal news gathering practices, including payments to police.

Last month, police arrested four current and former staff at Rupert Murdoch's best-selling Sun tabloid plus a policeman as they focused on suspected payments by journalists to officers.

A phone hacking scandal at News Corp's News of the World newspaper prompted the publication's closure last year.

The company has since set up a Management and Standards Committee as part of a drive to repair the firm's reputational damage.

News Corp said the committee provided police with the information that led to Saturday's arrests.

"All five were arrested on suspicion of corruption ... aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office ... and conspiracy in relation to both these offences," police said in a statement.

"It relates to suspected payments to police officers and public officials."

-Reuters

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