Disgraced BBC presenter Martin Bashir paid ‘£60,000’ while on sick leave since August
DISGRACED BBC presenter Martin Bashir has been paid an estimated £60,000 while on sick leave.
He got it despite being probed over his controversial Princess Diana interview.
His salary, sick pay and pension contributions are all being met by licence-fee payers.
And his legal fees are also being picked up by the public during an inquiry into claims he used forged documents to secure his 1995 scoop.
A source said: “He is doing nicely from sitting at home with his feet up while this plays out. It will be dragged on for as long as possible.”
Bashir, 58, has been off sick since August after he caught Covid and had a quadruple heart bypass operation.
It has coincided with revelations about alleged lies he told to persuade Diana to give her Panorama interview.
He is now religious affairs correspondent at the BBC, which usually pays sick staff their full salary for 18 weeks, then half-pay for nine weeks.
After that they get statutory sick pay of £95.85 a week.
An inquiry, led by former Supreme Court judge Lord Dyson, began in November and is expected to rule in about six months.
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But sources fear Bashir will walk away with a handsome pay-off, whether the allegations are proven or not.
One said: “They won’t dare want him at the stand at an employment tribunal in open court.
"He could say anything, especially if he feels aggrieved.”
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