UK detective found guilty in hacking scandal

First conviction in high-profile case

A top counterterrorism detective was found guilty on Thursday of trying to sell information to a Rupert Murdoch tabloid, becoming the first person to be convicted on charges related to Britain’s phone-hacking scandal since a police investigation was reopened in early 2011.

Detective Chief Inspector April Casburn was charged with misconduct for phoning the News of the World and offering to pass on information about whether London’s police force would reopen its stalled phone-hacking investigation.

Prosecutors said the tabloid did not print a story based on her call and no money changed hands. However, they said, she had committed a “gross breach” of the public trust by offering to sell the information.

Casburn, 53, also was accused of trying to ruin the inquiry, which centred on journalists at the now-defunct News of the World, by leaking information to the press.

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement that selling confidential information to journalists for personal gain would not be tolerated. The statement said the detective had “abused” her police position.

“Casburn proactively approached the News of the World, the very newspaper being investigated, to make money,” the police statement said. “She betrayed the service and let down her colleagues.”

The statement said vital information on the Casburn case was given to police by the Management and Standards Committee at Murdoch’s News Corp.

Casburn, who managed the Metropolitan Police terrorist financing investigation unit, had admitted contacting the newspaper but denied that she offered confidential information or sought payment.