Four Corners reporter Mahmood Fazal is no longer employed by the ABC, a spokesperson has confirmed.Fazal was the subject of an internal investigation into an unauthorised podcast appearance with a former underworld figure last year.In October 2025, Media Watch reported that Fazal had worked on podcast Word on the Street, hosted by independent journalist Ryan Naumenko.But the two parted ways following a falling-out and Naumenko made a series of damaging accusations, including that Fazal had demanded payment in cryptocurrency without disclosing the paid job to his ABC supervisor.A statement to Media Watch on behalf of Fazal, dated October 20, 2025, said he agreed to the podcast, believing he had his manager's approval."He agreed to connect Mr Naumenko with production contacts — which he did in good faith retaining and paying contractors for their work," the statement said."The allegations now being peddled by Mr Naumenko are categorically denied by Mr Fazal."A statement from the ABC at the same time said Fazal's manager endorsed him taking part in a podcast interview, based on the information provided to him."The interview did not receive final approval by the ABC as part of the external work guidelines," the statement said."After the interview aired, which included gambling ads, his manager withdrew endorsement of the work. ABC management is thoroughly investigating this matter."Mahmood Fazal was a member of the Mongols, an outlaw motorcycle club. (Supplied)Fazal, a former member of the Mongols bikie group, is a Walkley Award–winning journalist specialsing in crime, violence, imprisonment and terrorism.Before working at Four Corners he was an investigative reporter for ABC RN's Background Briefing.Prior to joining the ABC, he worked for VICE as a senior staff writer and host of the series, Violent Times.His reporting has appeared in The Guardian, Rolling Stone, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Monthly and The Saturday Paper.Fazal's contacts enabled him to line up hard-hitting crime stories and investigations, including with gang members. But they also landed him in hot water, with The Sydney Morning Herald reporting in May 2024 that he had passed on "menacing messages" from an organised crime gang to journalists, including popular podcaster Jordan Shanks (Friendly Jordies).Shanks's house was firebombed in 2022, and Tufi Junior Tauese-Auelua, who was associated with the Alameddine crime family, was jailed for five years for the crime.A story published in Nine newspapers last year alleged that Fazal had sent a series of texts to Naumenko about Shanks, which Fazal claimed were fabricated.In December last year, Fazal's lawyers issued a concerns notice to Nine, the publisher of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, for the story, asking for it to be taken down, an apology and $800,000.Fazal has been asked for comment.