The media group behind the British tabloids News of The World and The Sun would have paid in secret more than 1 million pounds (about $ 3.2 million) to avoid court proceedings in which its journalists were accused of involvement in the wiretapping up to 3 thousand phones of public figures from politics, the sports and entertainment.

The charges came from the British newspaper “The Guardian” in its edition of Thursday, which states that the tabloids hired private detectives who “invaded” the phones of celebrities to illegally gain access to confidential personal data such as bank statements and accounts.

Among the “victims”, according to the newspaper, would be the actress Gwyneth Paltrow, the model Elle Macpherson, the singer George Michael, the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and presenter Nigella Lawson. The newspaper also said that the police knew of staples, but at the time warned people not affected.

Hours after the publication of the series of reports the Guardian, the police announced that it will “consider” the allegations.

The News Group Newspapers, owner of the tabloids and The Times newspaper, is a subsidiary of News International group and belongs to the media magnate Rupert Murdoch.
In an interview with financial news agency Bloomberg, Rupert Murdoch also denied knowing about the alleged payments to private detectives and phone clips.

Via BBC.