Scotland Yard to ‘assess what offences may have committed’ by Keith Vaz in rent boy scandal
Keith Vaz was accused of meeting with prostitutes and asking them to bring drugs
DETECTIVES last night launched a probe into whether Keith Vaz broke the law with two male prostitutes.
Scotland Yard’s Special Enquiry Team will “assess and identify” any crimes potentially committed by the vice-scandal MP, 59.
The married father of two quit as chair of the powerful Home Affairs Select Committee last week amid allegations he paid for sex with a pair of Romanian escorts.
He reportedly told one he would pay for him to buy cocaine to bring to his flat.
The probe follows a letter by Tory MP Andrew Bridgen to Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe.
He suggested Mr Vaz may have engaged in “conspiracy to supply a controlled substance”.
He also called for an investigation into possible misconduct in public office.
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Commander Stuart Cundy replied yesterday: “The SET have commenced an assessment of the information you have provided and other information available.
“Following this assessment a decision will be taken on the most appropriate course of action.”
The SET, whose detectives are hand-picked for their discretion, has been dubbed the “Celebrity Squad” after previous probes into Jeffrey Archer and Kate Moss.
Scotland Yard said in a statement that officers will “assess and identify what criminal offences — if any — may have been committed”.
A decision will then be taken on a possible full-scale investigation into Mr Vaz, who wishes to remain Labour MP for Leicester East.
Experts say Mr Vaz did not break prostitution laws as he did not solicit sex in a public place or offer his flat to be used for the purpose.
But officers will assess claims Mr Vaz told a rent boy to buy cocaine before allowing its use at the flat in Edgware, North London.
Ex-Met commander John O’Connor said: “It is quite apparent that Vaz could have been an accessory to the fact of offering to pay for someone to buy cocaine.
“It would mean he is assisting someone to break the law. It is unlikely he would actually be prosecuted but if reports are right then there is enough to investigate and caution him.’’
Cops will also study allegations that a man linked to Mr Vaz’s diabetes charity Silver Star settled at least part of the escorts’ bill.
Two deposits of £150 were paid into a bank account, including one on August 5 with the reference “painting”.
There is no suggestion the man knew the money might be being used to pay for sex.
The Charities Commission has been informed. Dr Malde Modhsvadia, a former trustee of Silver Star, has said: “We want to know if something improper is going on.”
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