More arrests in phone hacking scandal

A 34-year-old man, arrested earlier today as part of the ongoing phone hacking scandal in London, has been released on bail.

According to a police report, the man was questioned by police "on suspicion of conspiracy to intercept voicemail messages." He is the 15th person held by police in the case, which is investigating the criminal activity at Rupert Murdoch's News of the World paper.

His arrest comes days after the rearrest of paper's former managing editor, Stuart Kuttner. Rebekah Brooks, the chief executive of News International, and Andy Coulson, an ex Downing street communications chief have also been arrested.

The case will resume at the House of Commons next Tuesday when members of Parliament have returned from summer recess. Several formal executives from News of the World and News International, have been called in to give evidence.

The New York Times reports that the point of the hearings is to determine whether Rupert Murdoch's son, James Murdoch, had previous knowledge of the phone hacking at News of the World.

[James] chose to make a record $1.4 million settlement in a 2008 lawsuit brought by the soccer union leader Gordon Taylor, which alleged voicemail interceptions. That settlement included a confidentiality clause….

James Murdoch testified earlier this year that he was not aware of that documentary evidence at the time and had made the settlement because it made financial sense. Mr. Myler and Mr. Crone later said he was “mistaken” in his testimony and was fully aware of the evidence, a claim they will likely expand on during Tuesday’s proceedings.

James was the head of News Corporations European and Asian businesses.

The scandal has resulted in the closure of the News of the World, which had been printing each Sunday for 168 years.