The BBC has suspended a television presenter, whose identity is unknown, who has been accused of paying a minor to send him images of a sexual nature.
As reported by the public corporation in a statement, a male member of its staff has been suspended as a result of the open investigation after receiving a complaint on this matter in May.
“We hope to be in a position to provide further information in the coming days as the process progresses. The BBC Council will remain informed,” the note said.
The tabloid newspaper The Sun, which revealed the scandal, points out today that the mother of the child – whose identity and gender are unknown – was able to see the BBC star in underwear in a video “ready for my son to perform for him.”
It is believed that the presenter paid more than 35,000 pounds (40,000 euros) to the minor since he was 17 years to 20 -his age now- in exchange for those sexual imagesmoney with which the victim allegedly paid for his addiction to “crack”.
The BBC assured that it was first aware of the complaint in May, but that on Thursday received new accusations “of a different nature”, whereupon he handed the case over to the police.
In an email sent to the staff, the CEO of the corporation, Tim Davie, confirmed that they are in contact with the family that denounced the case to the press.
“I want to assure you that we are working quickly to establish the facts and ensure that matters are dealt with fairly and carefully, including by outside authorities where appropriate,” he said.
Despite the fact that the BBC has said that it “takes these accusations very seriously”, the corporation is receiving multiple criticisms upon learning, according to “The Sun”, that the family filed a complaint in May, but the presenter has continued to appear on the screen.
Culture Minister Lucy Frazer, who reports to the BBC, spoke to Davie on Sunday about the “very worrying allegations involving one of its presenters,” she said on Twitter.
Davie “has assured me that the BBC is investigating it swiftly and tactfully,” wrote the conservative minister in her account on the social network.
“Given the nature of the allegations, it is important that the BBC is given the space to carry out its investigation, establish the facts and take appropriate action.”
The criticisms have come for the moment both from the labor opposition and from the same ranks of the “tories”.
Labour’s Economy spokeswoman, Rachel Reeves, told “Sky News” that “what is worrying is that someone makes a complaint, a very serious complaint, and then puts on television the next day and (the presenter) is still there.”
Several of the BBC stars, such as former soccer player Gary Lineker, have been quick to deny on their social networks that they were the person being investigated.