Another Journalist Arrested On Computer Hacking Charges

Two more men have been arrested on suspicion of computer hacking, believed to include former News of the World executive Alex Marunchak, as the Metropolitan Police continues to look into the practices of journalists and criminal breaches of privacy.

A 61-year-old journalist believed to be Marunchak was arrested this morning, along with another 58-year-old man understood to be private detective Jonathan Rees. Both men were taken in for questioning  for offences under the Computer Misuse Act and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Searches are being carried out at two addresses, one in Surrey and another in Kent.

Hacking charges

The arrests form part of Operation Kalmyk, which is looking into journalism-related computer hacking under the Operation Tuleta banner. Those efforts are running alongside the Met’s inquiries into phone hacking – Operation Weeting.

A total of 16 arrests have now been made as part of Operation Tuleta. In August, the Met arrested a man believed to be former Times journalist Patrick Foster in North London. He was arrested for suspected offences under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and suspected conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

In September, a 33-year-old man was taken into custody at a South London police station.

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