Dominic Mohan replaced as Sun editor
The editor of Britain’s biggest-selling tabloid leaves the paper for a senior advisory role on the day that two Sun journalists are charged under Operation Elveden.
Mr Mohan will take up a senior role advising the chief executive officer of the Sun’s owner News Corp.
David Dinsmore, who has edited the Scottish edition of the tabloid since 2006, will take over as editor of the Sun on Monday.
The news comes as two Sun journalists face charges for allegedly buying information. including details about Broadmoor patients and the work of a member of the royal family.
Journalist Jamie Pyatt and pictures editor John Edwards are accused of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office for allegedly paying public officials.
They are facing the charge along with former Broadmoor healthcare assistant Robert Neave.
‘Payments to public officials’
Gregor McGill, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “In relation to the specific allegations in this case, it is alleged that over a period of almost nine years the Sun newspaper made payments totalling more than £30,000 to public officials including police officers, army personnel and Broadmoor officials, including Robert Neave, in exchange for information.
“It is alleged that the information for which the Sun made payments included that relating to the health and activities of Broadmoor patients, details about the work of a member of the royal family and details of ongoing police investigations.”
Mr Mohan, 44, joined the Sun in 1996 and initially worked on the paper’s showbiz column Bizarre. He became the column’s editor two years later, following in the footsteps of Piers Morgan and Andy Coulson.
He was named as Rebekah Brooks’s replacement as editor of the News International title in 2009 after Brooks was made the group’s chief executive.
Text messages
Labour MP Chris Bryant called for Mr Mohan to be sacked last year after it emerged that the Sun had illegally accessed text messages on a phone stolen from fellow MP Siobhain McDonagh on his watch.
The paper, which was not accused of the theft of the phone, apologised to Ms McDonagh and paid her “very substantial” damages.
It has been a real privilege to edit the Sun, an intrinsic part of modern Britain, loved by its readers and unmatched by its rivals. Dominic Mohan
Dominic Mohan said in a statement: “It has been a real privilege to edit the Sun, an intrinsic part of modern Britain, loved by its readers and unmatched by its rivals.
“I am proud of the way we have informed and amused our readers in recent years and also campaigned on their behalf in difficult economic times. I would like to thank my peerless staff for the creativity and spark they have brought to the paper day after day.
“I am confident The Sun will go from strength to strength, and now look forward to a new challenge of helping a brand new company find its feet and build a strong future for its journalism across the globe.”