Royal Editor Admits Phone Tapping

UK — The royal editor of the News of the World has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to intercept voicemail messages.

Clive Goodman, 48, from London, was arrested after claims by the Prince of Wales’s household of security breaches.

Glenn Mulcaire, 35, admitted the same charge and five counts of intercepting messages on the mobile phones of the likes of publicist Max Clifford.

Sentencing will take place after details of the case are outlined at an Old Bailey hearing. Other victims of Mulcaire’s hacking were Sol Campbell’s agent Sky Andrew, chairman of the Professional Footballers Association Gordon Taylor, MP Simon Hughes and the international supermodel Elle Macpherson.

He intercepted voicemail messages left for each of them. (Source: www.bbc.co.uk)

New Greek Cypriot Law Awakens Tension

Greece — According to the law, Turkish Cypriots and foreigners involved with the sale and purchase of Greek Cypriot properties in the North without permission of the owner may be imprisoned for up to seven years.

News that the Greek Cypriot government has recently passed a law to investigate and arrest Turkish Cypriots living on Greek Cypriot properties in the North has awakened a sharp reaction in the North. However, officials from the South pointed out that the new law is mainly to investigate Turkish Cypriots that are involved with purchase or sale of Greek Cypriot properties in the North. Sources pointed out that European Union officials are also interested in the issue, asking for the content of the law from the Greek Cypriot government. (Source: www.observercyprus.com)

Guilty Plea in Sex Tour to Manila

US — The owner of a web site called ‘LadyParadise.com’ pleaded guilty to sex tourism, admitting that he facilitated the travel of at least one other individual knowing that the purpose of the travel was for that person to engage in sexual activity with underage girls, US Attorney Christopher J Christie announced.

Daniel Cuneo, 37, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, admitted before US District Judge Jose L Linares that he provided services to a potential customer, including offering to serve as that customer’s personal tour guide, in arranging a trip to the Philippines. 

The customer with whom Cuneo interacted was actually an undercover agent with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Cuneo was meeting this person at the time of his arrest.

Cuneo pleaded guilty to engaging in sex tourism, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. (Source: www.filipinoreporter.com)

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against First Gent

Manila — Filipino journalists are preparing a class action lawsuit against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s husband for allegedly stifling press freedom, their lawyer said.

At least 42 of the 43 journalists that Jose Miguel ‘Mike’ Arroyo has accused of libel will serve as the main plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said lawyer Harry Roque.

A separate case may be filed against Mr Arroyo with the UN Commission on Human Rights after Filipino journalists ‘exhaust local remedies’.

Local and international media groups have denounced a string of libel cases filed against the journalists and publishers as an effort to muzzle critics.

The libel cases, filed over the last two years, were in connection with reports of alleged election fraud and corruption involving Mr Arroyo.

Mr Arroyo’s spokeswoman, Juris Soliman, earlier denied the libel suits were intended to stifle the media and said the articles in question were written with malice. (Source: www.filipinoreporter.com)

Cake-Thrower in Court

Norway — The trial of a man who could face a very stern 15-year sentence for hitting Norway’s Minister of Finance with a cake has begun.

Waagaard, 24, who was hoping to finally be able to put the incident behind him, had hit Socialist Left Party leader Kristin Halvorsen with a cream cake as a protest during one of her first appearances in office.

‘I view the position of Finance Minister as one of, if not the, most important positions in the government. Therefore I believed it was wrong that a party with such a poor election showing should get such a significant position,’ Waagaard said.

Waagaard admits that it has been a tough year and that he would never have carried out the stunt if he knew how things would have gone. Authorities decided to prosecute him for trying to obstruct the duties of a cabinet minister. He has pleaded not guilty to this charge, but admits to having caused Halvorsen offence – though not with a dangerous object.

‘It has been very tough since July when the charges were expanded. I would have never believed that the outcome could be so serious and that what I did could have a maximum penalty of 15 years. That is quite incredible,’ Waagaard said, and added that he could not see a cake being a dangerous object. (Source: www.aftenposten.no)