Aitken associate cleared

London - Criminal charges against a friend of former Tory Cabinet minister Mr Jonathan Aitken were dropped at the Old Bailey …

London - Criminal charges against a friend of former Tory Cabinet minister Mr Jonathan Aitken were dropped at the Old Bailey yesterday. Mr Said Ayas - godfather to one of Mr Aitken's children - was jointly charged with Mr Aitken with plotting to pervert the course of justice during an unsuccessful libel action against the Guardian and Granada Television.

Mr Aitken has always denied the charge - but last month admitted perjury during his High Court action. He also pleaded guilty to intending alone to pervert the course of public justice by drafting a witness statement for his daughter Victoria which he knew was false and submitting it to the High Court.

Mr Aitken (56) had denied charges alleging conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and doing acts tending and intending to pervert the course of public justice.