Bodi pleads to CSA match-fixing charges, waits to hear his fate

GULAM Bodi has lodged his plea, which leaves his immediate future in the hands of Cricket SA (CSA). And it would appear Bodi has admitted guilt.

Bodi’s lawyer, Ayoob Kaka, confirmed yesterday that his client had answered the charge sheet.

“The ball is now in CSA’s court,” Kaka said. “They have to decide whether they want to refer the matter to a tribunal or do they accept the plea. Depending on their response, we either make a deal or we go to court.” CSA had not commented yesterday.

In December, CSA suspended Bodi and charged him with “contriving to fix, or otherwise improperly influence aspects of the 2015 (franchise) T20 series.”

Kaka would not reveal the nature of Bodi’s plea — “I’d love to tell you but I can’t ”— the charge sheet has not been made public.”

However, reading between the lines it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that Bodi has admitted to at least some of what he has been accused of doing.

Legal sources said yesterday that Bodi might have confessed to a lesser charge in the hopes of receiving a lighter sanction than he would earn if he fought and lost a bigger battle with CSA.

In any event, a plea of not guilty would not require CSA’s acceptance. It would mean the process would move to its next, adversarial, stage.

While the balance of probabilities is the guiding principle in civil procedures like disciplinary hearings, criminal courts only convict when the facts of the case are proved beyond reasonable doubt.

So even though the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act of 2004 criminalises match-fixing, making evidence stick well enough to earn a conviction is difficult.