Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Financial woes delay Bodi’s sentencing
Match-fixing ex-cricketer’s lawyer withdraws
FORMER Proteas batsman Gulam Bodi, who faces a minimum of 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to eight charges of corruption relating to match-fixing, has to wait until May to hear the outcome of his court case.
Bodi, 40, appeared in Pretoria’s Specialised Commercial Crimes Court this week for sentencing, but Magistrate Nicola Setshogoe was forced to delay proceedings as the ex-Lions and Titans star’s lawyer Sinenhlanhla Mnguni has withdrawn.
“Sentencing procedures were meant to get under way today (Monday), but unfortunately I had to withdraw as Mr Bodi’s attorney of record due to a number of reasons,” said Mnguni.
“It’s something that we had discussed at length. Mr Bodi’s financial position, especially with the ban, means that it is very difficult for him to retain the services of a private attorney, so it’s something that didn’t come as a surprise to him. It’s something that has been discussed.”
Bodi has been charged under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, which makes provision for the prosecution of corrupt behaviour within sporting events. The act was introduced after the 2000 match-fixing saga involving the late Hansie Cronje.
“We tried our best to assist Mr Bodi, but given that we unfortunately do run a professional establishment, we cannot indefinitely carry a client and so a business decision was made,” said Mnguni.
“The court had no issue with the postponements as this is not uncommon in courts, it is something that happens regularly. Legal costs can be quite expensive especially if one has no income with which to pay for these services.
“My understanding is that Mr Bodi’s family have been able to procure an attorney who is close to the family, to assist them.”
In November, Bodi said: “It has been a very tough few years. Just recently I managed to get a job and after three years of running around and struggling, things started slowly looking a bit better and now this (his court case) comes up. “It’s completely shattered me.
“This is going to greatly affect my job and my family, because nobody wants to be associated with a criminal.”
In January 2016, Bodi was suspended from all forms of cricket by Cricket SA (CSA) for 20 years for his part in contriving to fix matches in the 2015 edition of the Ram Slam Challenge T20 competition.
Alviro Petersen, Thami Tsolekile, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Jean Symes, Pumi Matshikwe and Ethy Mbhalati were also implicated in the match-fixing scandal and face imprisonment.