LONDON, Feb 04 (APP)- British prosecutors announced Friday that three Pakistani Test cricketers accused of taking bribes to fix incidents during the last summer Test series in England will be charged with criminal offences.The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorised charges of conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments and also conspiracy to cheat against Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt and sporting agent Mazhar Majeed.
In announcing the decision, Simon Clements, Head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said:
“We have decided that Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt and their agent, Mazhar Majeed, should be charged with conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments and also conspiracy to cheat.”
“These charges relate to allegations that Mr Majeed accepted money from a third party to arrange for the players to bowl ‘no balls’ on 26 and 27 August 2010, during Pakistan’s Fourth Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.”
Majeed has been summonsed to appear for a first hearing at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on March 17.
Clements further said :”Summonses for the same court date have been issued for the three players and they have been asked to return to this country voluntarily, as they agreed to do in September last year. Their extradition will be sought should they fail to return.
“The Crown Prosecution Service has been working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service since the allegations of match-fixing became public on August 29, 2010.
“We received a full file of evidence on December 7, 2010 and we are satisfied there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute.”
He said these men are entitled to a fair trial and should be regarded as innocent of these charges unless it is proven otherwise in court. The International Cricket Council tribunal is due to announce its decision on Saturday at Doha, but criminal proceedings are active now – APP
