The British police have arrested a former Hollywood reporter for the tabloid News of the World, which is at the center of a phone-hacking scandal.

The arrest of award-winning reporter James Desborough brings the number of arrests in the case to 13. Desborough was questioned at a London police station Thursday on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications while working for the now-defunct newspaper.

The 38-year-old journalist joined the publication in 2005 and was promoted to be the tabloid's Los Angeles-based editor in 2009.

News of the World shut down last month, following allegations that journalists illegally accessed the cellphone voicemails of hundreds of celebrities, politicians, rival journalists and even murder victims. Employees of the newspaper also are suspected of bribing police for information.

Among others arrested in connection with the scandal are former News of the World editors Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson. He went on to head communications for British Prime Minister David Cameron before resigning in January.

Glenn Mulcaire, who was jailed in 2007 for intercepting voice mail messages on behalf of News of the World, took legal action against the tabloid's publisher, News Corporation, on Wednesday.

His action is described as a contractual dispute related to the decision by the corporation to stop paying his legal costs.

News Corporation is media mogul Rupert Murdoch's worldwide conglomerate.