Speculation that former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks received a £10.8m pay-out following her departure last year appeared to be confirmed today.
Yesterday News International declined to comment on the payment to an unnamed executive, which was included in the company’s accounts, but the figure was reported as fact by the publisher’s Times newspaper this morning.
The Times report (£) said:
Rebekah Brooks was given £10.8 million when she quit as chief executive of News International last year.
The sum is six times larger than the £1.7 million that she was reported to have received at the time.
The pay-off includes “reimbursement for all legal and other professional costs incurred with ongoing investigations”.
It is understood that these costs could be clawed back if she is convicted of a criminal offence relating to her employment.
Brooks resigned on 15 July last year, days after News Corp announced the closure of the News of the World. She is facing charges of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, conspiract to intercept voicemail messages and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.
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