View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
July 18, 2006updated 22 Nov 2022 8:16pm

Sunday Times in £20k payout over sham marriage claims

By Press Gazette

The Sunday Times has paid £20,000 in damages to a solicitor it alleged had helped an undercover reporter obtain an illegal passport.

According to solicitors Carter Ruck, acting for Dr Akbar Malik: “The Sunday Times has apologised…over an article which wrongly alleged that he had advised a Sunday Times undercover reporter on how to obtain a passport by entering into a sham civil partnership.

“In fact, Dr. Malik never spoke, or otherwise communicated, with the Sunday Times journalist in question. “

The Sunday Times has agreed to pay damages and legal costs over the 19 February article.

Carter Ruck said: “Dr. Malik said that he was extremely pleased that the record has been set straight and that The Sunday Times had accepted that its allegations against him were unsubstantiated.”

The Sunday Times said in its corrections column on July 16: “Our report ‘Migrants use gay marriage loophole’ wrongly alleged that Dr Akbar Malik of Malik Law Chambers, London E2, had advised a Sunday Times undercover reporter on how to get a passport by entering into a sham civil partnership.

“While the reporter honestly believed, on the basis of information given to him at the time of his visit, that he was advised by Dr Malik, he did not in fact speak to Dr Malik. It follows that Dr Malik did not give the advice in question. We apologise to Dr Malik for the distress and embarrassment caused by our article.”

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network