Ex-News of the World editor Andy Coulson and the former head of Rupert Murdoch’s British press empire Rebekah Brooks appeared in court Thursday to face charges of bribing public officials.
Brooks, the 44-year-old former chief executive of News International, is alleged to have paid a Ministry of Defence official for information for The Sun newspaper, which like the now-defunct News of the World is owned by Murdoch.
Coulson, who became the head of communications for British Prime Minister David Cameron after editing the News of the World, is accused of paying for information including a directory of telephone numbers for the royal family.
By coincidence, they were in court on the day that the results were to be published from an extensive British judge-led inquiry into press ethics, which was set up as a result of the phone-hacking scandal at the News of the World.
Brooks appeared first at Westminster Magistrates Court in London, along with former Sun chief reporter John Kay, 69, and Ministry of Defence employee Bettina Jordan-Barber, 39.
It is alleged that Brooks and Kay conspired to pay Jordan-Barber £100,000 ($160,000, 123,000 euros) for information.
The three, who only spoke to confirm their personal details during the short hearing, each face one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office between January 1, 2004 and January 31 this year.
They were all released on bail and told to appear at Southwark Crown Court in London on December 6.
Coulson and the News of the World’s one-time royal correspondent Clive Goodman appeared afterwards, charged with conspiracy to pay for information including a royal phone directory known as the “Green Book”.
It is believed to contain the home numbers of senior royals including Queen Elizabeth II’s youngest son Prince Edward and the queen’s daughter Princess Anne as well as the landline and mobile numbers of all royal household staff.
Coulson, 44, and Goodman, 55, who was jailed in 2007 for phone-hacking, were also released on ail until the same date as the other three defendants.
Coulson and Brooks, who both gave evidence to the Leveson Inquiry, are also facing criminal charges over phone hacking. Brooks faces further charges of concealing evidence from police.
Murdoch closed the News of the World in July 2011 after allegations emerged that it had hacked the mobile phone of schoolgirl Milly Dowler, who was later found murdered.
Ex-Murdoch aides in court on bribery charges
