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              British Journalist Gets 18 Months for Phone Hacking

   by VOA News

   A former British tabloid editor who went on to become the spokesman for
   Prime Minister David Cameron has been sentenced to 18 months in jail
   for conducting an extensive phone hacking operation in pursuit of
   sensational stories.

   Andy Coulson, who was convicted last week of participating in a
   conspiracy to listen in on private voicemail messages, was handed his
   sentence Friday in London.

   Three other former journalists received shorter sentences.

   Coulson and his co-defendants were found guilty of plotting to
   eavesdrop on Britain's royal family, politicians, celebrities and
   victims of crime.  From 2003-2007, Coulson was the editor of the
   now-defunct News of the World tabloid owned by media magnate Rupert
   Murdoch.  Coulson then became the communications chief for Cameron
   until 2011.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/british-journalist-gets-18-months-for
   -phone-hacking/1950698.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/british-journalist-gets-18-months-for-phone-hacking/1950698.html