Former South African Test batsman Alviro Petersen yesterday moved to assure cricket fans that he has not been involved in corruption.
Petersen said it was important for him to relate his innocence to the country’s cricket-loving public.
“I want to ensure the public that I’ve never fixed a match, contrived or agreed to fix a match,” Petersen stated.
“I have never taken money or a bribe to fix a match, and this is an accepted fact, and I challenge anyone to make a claim to the contrary.
“I’m aware of those who have taken money and the detail thereof including amounts, and other further detail,” he said yesterday.
The former Glamorgan, Sussex, Somerset and Lancashire player then said the matter was now in the hands of his lawyer.
Cricket SA on Saturday charged the Port Elizabeth-born 35-year-old under six different sections of their anti-corruption code.
Petersen‚ who has 14 days to respond to the charges‚ has been provisionally suspended.
The charges relate to last season’s Ram Slam T20 domestic competition after which five players were banned‚ including former internationals Thami Tsolekile and Gulam Bodi.
Petersen was charged with the following breaches:
lContriving to fix or otherwise improperly influence‚ or being party to a scheme in which attempts would be made to fix, or otherwise improperly influence‚ a match or matches in the 2015/16 Ram Slam T20 Challenge Series;
lSeeking to accept‚ accepting or agreeing to accept a bribe or reward to fix or contrive to fix or influence improperly a match or matches in the 2015/16 Ram Slam T20 Challenge Series;
lFailing to disclose to the designated anti-corruption official (without unnecessary delay) full details of any approaches or invitations to engage in Corrupt Conduct under the Code;
lFailure to disclose to the designated anti-corruption official (without unnecessary delay) full details of any incident or fact that may evidence Corrupt Conduct under the code by another participant;
lNine counts of failing to disclose (without unnecessary delay) accurate and complete information and/or documentation to the designated anti-corruption official;
lObstructing or delaying the investigation by concealing‚ tampering with or destroying information or documentation relevant to the investigation.
Petersen’s lawyer Robin Twaddle released a statement, also on Saturday, saying the former Lions captain was being victimised by CSA.
Twaddle also said the charges were heavy-handed.
“Alviro appears to have been singled out by CSA‚ as he is aware of five players‚ not including Bodi‚ who did receive money to fix matches‚ one of whom has not been charged by CSA.”
The quartet of Tsolekile, Jean Symes‚ Pumelela Matshikwe and Ethy Mbhalati have already been handed suspensions varying from seven to 20 years.
In February this year, Wisden India wrote that another Port Elizabeth-born player Lonwabo Tsotsobe had confirmed he was being investigated for match-fixing by CSA but that he denied accepting money to under-perform.
“I’m not going to entertain any speculation, but CSA can do anything they need to do to check if we did any match-fixing with the people that they are investigating,” Tsotsobe, who played both Tests and ODIs for South Africa, was quoted as telling Wisden India at the time.
The story went on to say that Tsotsobe said he had given CSA his phone bills, messages and bank account details and said he was told they would get back to him. He has not played a game of cricket since December 4 last year.
The detailed statement from Twaddle went on to say: “Alviro acknowledges and admits that he played along with other persons involved in the scandal so as not to alert them to the fact that an investigation was under way.
“When Alviro first learnt at the end of July 2016 that charges were contemplated against him‚ he was surprised because he felt that he had cooperated with the investigative team as fully as he was required to.
“Alviro was in constant contact with the investigative team from the time he reported his knowledge of the scandal until Bodi was charged‚ and he gave information that he had received of actual plans to influence matches to the investigative unit.
“The charges follow a lengthy negotiating period between Alviro and CSA in which Alviro was offered a plea bargain.
“While Alviro is willing to take responsibility for his actions over this period‚ although they were taken in good faith under the circumstances at the time‚ he could not reach agreement with CSA because he believes that the sanctions which would have been imposed were disproportionate to Alviro’s actions and do not take sufficient cognisance of the defences and mitigating circumstances put forward by Alviro.” — Additional reporting by Tiso Black Star Group Digital
‘I’ve never fixed a match’ – Petersen
Petersen said it was important for him to relate his innocence to the country’s cricket-loving public.
“I want to ensure the public that I’ve never fixed a match, contrived or agreed to fix a match,” Petersen stated.
“I have never taken money or a bribe to fix a match, and this is an accepted fact, and I challenge anyone to make a claim to the contrary.
“I’m aware of those who have taken money and the detail thereof including amounts, and other further detail,” he said yesterday.
The former Glamorgan, Sussex, Somerset and Lancashire player then said the matter was now in the hands of his lawyer.
Cricket SA on Saturday charged the Port Elizabeth-born 35-year-old under six different sections of their anti-corruption code.
Petersen‚ who has 14 days to respond to the charges‚ has been provisionally suspended.
The charges relate to last season’s Ram Slam T20 domestic competition after which five players were banned‚ including former internationals Thami Tsolekile and Gulam Bodi.
Petersen was charged with the following breaches:
lContriving to fix or otherwise improperly influence‚ or being party to a scheme in which attempts would be made to fix, or otherwise improperly influence‚ a match or matches in the 2015/16 Ram Slam T20 Challenge Series;
lSeeking to accept‚ accepting or agreeing to accept a bribe or reward to fix or contrive to fix or influence improperly a match or matches in the 2015/16 Ram Slam T20 Challenge Series;
lFailing to disclose to the designated anti-corruption official (without unnecessary delay) full details of any approaches or invitations to engage in Corrupt Conduct under the Code;
lFailure to disclose to the designated anti-corruption official (without unnecessary delay) full details of any incident or fact that may evidence Corrupt Conduct under the code by another participant;
lNine counts of failing to disclose (without unnecessary delay) accurate and complete information and/or documentation to the designated anti-corruption official;
lObstructing or delaying the investigation by concealing‚ tampering with or destroying information or documentation relevant to the investigation.
Petersen’s lawyer Robin Twaddle released a statement, also on Saturday, saying the former Lions captain was being victimised by CSA.
Twaddle also said the charges were heavy-handed.
“Alviro appears to have been singled out by CSA‚ as he is aware of five players‚ not including Bodi‚ who did receive money to fix matches‚ one of whom has not been charged by CSA.”
The quartet of Tsolekile, Jean Symes‚ Pumelela Matshikwe and Ethy Mbhalati have already been handed suspensions varying from seven to 20 years.
In February this year, Wisden India wrote that another Port Elizabeth-born player Lonwabo Tsotsobe had confirmed he was being investigated for match-fixing by CSA but that he denied accepting money to under-perform.
“I’m not going to entertain any speculation, but CSA can do anything they need to do to check if we did any match-fixing with the people that they are investigating,” Tsotsobe, who played both Tests and ODIs for South Africa, was quoted as telling Wisden India at the time.
The story went on to say that Tsotsobe said he had given CSA his phone bills, messages and bank account details and said he was told they would get back to him. He has not played a game of cricket since December 4 last year.
The detailed statement from Twaddle went on to say: “Alviro acknowledges and admits that he played along with other persons involved in the scandal so as not to alert them to the fact that an investigation was under way.
“When Alviro first learnt at the end of July 2016 that charges were contemplated against him‚ he was surprised because he felt that he had cooperated with the investigative team as fully as he was required to.
“Alviro was in constant contact with the investigative team from the time he reported his knowledge of the scandal until Bodi was charged‚ and he gave information that he had received of actual plans to influence matches to the investigative unit.
“The charges follow a lengthy negotiating period between Alviro and CSA in which Alviro was offered a plea bargain.
“While Alviro is willing to take responsibility for his actions over this period‚ although they were taken in good faith under the circumstances at the time‚ he could not reach agreement with CSA because he believes that the sanctions which would have been imposed were disproportionate to Alviro’s actions and do not take sufficient cognisance of the defences and mitigating circumstances put forward by Alviro.” — Additional reporting by Tiso Black Star Group Digital
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