Sun's royal editor Duncan Larcombe arrested in 'illegal payment to public officials' probe

London, Apr 19 (ANI): Popular British newspaper the Sun's royal editor Duncan Larcombe has reportedly been arrested by police investigating alleged illegal payments to public officials by journalists.

Larcombe, who was The Sun's defence editor until last year, was arrested at his home on suspicion of conspiracy to corrupt and to cause misconduct in a public office.

He was one of three people held in dawn raids by detectives from Scotland Yard's Operation Elveden, The Telegraph reports.

A 42-year-old man held on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and a 38-year-old woman held for aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office, are other two arrested by the police.

Scotland Yard said in a statement that the arrest operation is the result of information provided to police by News Corporation's management standards committee.

"It relates to suspected payments to a public official and is not about seeking journalists to reveal confidential sources in relation to information that has been obtained legitimately," it added.

The arrests came a day after prosecutors announced that they were considering whether to bring charges against 11 suspects in the phone hacking scandal.

The suspects are believed to include Rebekah Brooks, the former News International chief executive. (ANI)