Former managing editor of the News of the World, Stuart Kuttner, was on Tuesday apprehended and later released on bail, marking the 11th arrest in the phone-hacking scandal at the now-defunct tabloid.
Kuttner, 70, apparently did not know he was going to be taken into custody when he arrived, by appointment, with his solicitor at a police station in London at around 11am to answer questions regarding the scandal.
As per normal practice, Scotland Yard has not released the name of the arrested person, but according to Sky News and The Guardian, he is Kuttner, who was a leading figure in the News of the World until 2009.
He was bailed on Tuesday evening until later this month. Kuttner was 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.
Rebekah Brooks, ex-editor of the News of the World, was also arrested under the same charges. Kuttner resigned as the managing editor in 2009, after playing a leading role in the tabloid's 'Sarah's Law' campaign, which sought to change the law, so parents can be told when registered sex offenders move into their area. He was previously news editor at the London Evening Standard.
Police from both Operation Weeting, the Metropolitan police investigation into phone hacking, and Elveden, the investigation into allegations of inappropriate payments to police, were reported to have been involved in the arrest.
The development is the latest in a scandal that has already caused the closure of the 168-year-old newspaper and the resignation of two top police officers, as well as 10 arrests.
Others arrested and bailed included ex-NoTW editor Andy Coulson, ex-NoTW assistant editor Ian Edmondson, ex-NoTW chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck, senior ex-NoTW journalist James Weatherup, freelance journalist Terenia Taras, an unnamed 63-year-old man, and ex-NoTW royal editor Clive Goodman.
