The much-expected hearing was underway on Sunday in the city against nine cricketers and officials indicted with match-fixing and spot-fixing offences involving into the second edition of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The lawyers of the respective individuals dealt the matter before the three-member anti-corruption tribunal in closed-door, convened by Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury. Among the nine individuals, only Rafique’s lawyer was not present. Rafique could not be reached whether he appoints any lawyer.
Of the nine people, who have not been publicly named by Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) of ICC, seven have been charged with match-fixing offences, and two others with failing to comply with their obligation to report corrupt approaches that were made to them. Of the nine, Ashraful made a confession about his offences while the others chose not to plead guilty.
Two foreign players- English all-rounder Darren Stevens and Sri Lanka Kaushal Lukaracchi have also been charged with failing to report corrupt approaches made to them to fix matches.
Justice Chowdhury refused to disclose any outcome of the hearing but said the next hearing will be held on January 19.
“We heard all party’s version. The next hearing will be held on January 19,” he said. The rest of the two members of tribunal- Ajmalul Hossain QC and former cricketer Shakil Kasem were present during this period.
Ashraful’s British lawyer Yasin Patel communicated the tribunal through Skype and presented his speech. Patel was also the lawyer of England cricketer Darren Stevens. It is learnt, Patel though pleaded guilty for Ashraful and appealed to reduce the punishment, he preferred not to plead guilty for Stevens. He appealed against the charges of Stevens.
It is also known Lukaracchi’s lawyer Thilan pleaded guilty which meant Ashraful and Lukaracchi will now be waiting for the verdict of the tribunal.
Barrister Nowrose Chowdhury and MA Amin Uddin, the lawyers of Dhaka Gladiators owner Selim Chowdhury, co-owner Shihab Chowdhury and their Indian CEO Gaurav Rawat appealed against the charges. Lawyer of Mosharraf Hossain Rubel and Mahbubul Alam Robin, Barrister Nurus Sadik also appealed against charges of his clients. MA Amin Uddin said, “We filed a case in the local court against BCB because they could not form tribunal for final hearing of the cases under the article 5.1.4 of the code in time. They said they would start the procedure within 40 days after the charges against us were made but they failed to do it.”
Nurus Sadik said, “We gave our version and they heard it.”
Disciplinary panel chairman former justice Abdur Rashid meanwhile came to the tribunal to observe the procedure. He spent some times there before leaving.
The ICC’s legal adviser delegation team -Yean Higings, Prosecutor Jonathan Tailor and legal officer Shelly Clark were also present.
-With The Independent input
