Lonwabo Tsotsobe banned for 8 years under CSA anti-corruption code [Update Post #15]

[#GreenRoars]

Cape Town - Former South Africa fast bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe has confirmed that he is being investigated for match fixing by Cricket South Africa (CSA), but denies having taken money from bookies to underperform.

The Lions paceman was contacted by Wisden India and confirmed that CSA had asked for his phone records and the like, but said further comments would go via CSA. He has taken time off from the Lions, but wouldn't say why.

Former Lions batsman Gulam Bodi, meanwhile, was confirmed as the intermediary between the players and the Indian bookies, and has been banned from the game for 20 years for his role in approaching players to underperform for money.

Along with Tsotsobe, who confirmed his part in the investigation, wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile is also allegedly involved, though neither he nor CSA have commented. CSA would not comment on Tsotsobe either.

The paceman told Wisden India: "There’s a lot of speculation going around. I'm not going to entertain anything but Cricket South Africa can do anything they need to do to check if we did any match-fixing with the people that they are investigating.

"I've given them everything they want. My phone bills, my messages, my bank accounts, everything. They said they would get back to me."

When asked whether he met with any of the bookies, he added: "That we can discuss with Cricket South Africa. If you want to know anything more about what’s going on you can ask them."

As for his current hiatus from the Lions, for whom he last played in December, he said: "I just feel that there’s a lot that’s going on in my life.

"I've spoken to the coach and he’s the one who gave me the time off. I don't have to explain myself to any other person. If the CEO and the coach know, then I think I'm cool."

http://m.sport24.co.za/sport24/Cricket/Proteas/tsotsobe-under-match-fixing-investigation-20160225

 

[carrom_ball]

South African cricket is getting buried, worst time to be a South African fan

 

[SL_Fan]

That's no good. Hope he's not involved.

 

[Sidilicious]

I really hope none of them are involved.

It would be a shame for the world of cricket. If anyone of them are involved, it would be really disappointing, side they haven't learnt anything from the Butt, Amir and Asif saga.

 

[carrom_ball]

I really hope none of them are involved.

It would be a shame for the world of cricket. If anyone of them are involved, it would be really disappointing, side they haven't learnt anything from the Butt, Amir and Asif saga.

Or the cronje saga

 

[James]

Blatantly guilty. Reading the article, he hasn't even denied it. If somebody was wrongly accused of a criminal offence then they would deny their guilt and defend their integrity. He meanwhile is resigned in his words and knows that the game is up.

 

[Varun]

Something was always off about this guy.

 

[CricFan2012]

[MENTION=132715]Varun[/MENTION] [MENTION=1842]James[/MENTION]

really pathetic that people are already calling him a criminal when there is no evidence yet or charges, just investigation. I know lobsy and hes innocent.

 

[James]

Wasn't 'lobsy's' contract terminated early by an English county side one summer due to poor conduct and generally being a bad egg?

 

[Bilal7]

Will this never end?

 

[MenInG]

CSA charges Lonwabo Tsotsobe under its Anti-Corruption Code

CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA (CSA) today charged former Proteas and Highveld Lions player Lonwabo Tsotsobe with several breaches of its Anti-Corruption Code for Personnel (“the Code”).

The charges against Tsotsobe follows a lengthy investigation which started around October 2015 by CSA’s Anti-Corruption Unit, and the previous findings and bans imposed on Gulam Bodi, Jean Symes, Pumi Matshikwe, Ethy Mbhalati, Thami Tsolekile and Alviro Petersen for offences under the Code relating to the 2015 RAM SLAM T20 Challenge Series.

Tsotsobe, aged 33, has been charged with among other offences, the following significant charges:

· Contriving 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 RAM SLAM T20 Challenge Series;

· Seeking 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 RAM SLAM T20 Challenge Series;

· Failing to disclose the receipt of a gift or payment that he knew or ought to have known was given to him to procure a breach of the Code or that was made in circumstances that could bring him or the sport of cricket into disrepute;

· Failing 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;

To date Tsotsobe has not been under any form of suspension. Under Article 4.7 of the Code, CSA has now provisionally suspended Tsotsobe from playing, coaching or otherwise being involved in any capacity in any match under its jurisdiction or that of the ICC or any other ICC member.

In terms of Article 8.1 of the Code and in terms of standard practice, CSA will not make any further comment in respect of the matter.

 

[TahirFan]

Match fixing will destroy South African cricket if Cricket South Africa does not find a way to eradicate it.

South Africa's domestic T20 competition was played this without a sponsor this year. No company wants to tarnish its name with a competition plagued by match fixing.

Western Cape (Cape Cobras) coach Paul Adams resigned earlier this year because he is convinced that his players were involved in fixing

I watched many of the T20 games and game after game the Cape Cobras were involved in a batting collapses which seemed very suspicious

Cape Cobra player Justin Kemp was seen having lunch with an Indian gentleman at a expensive Cape Town restaurant. Kemp claimed that the Indian was a friend of his when he played in the ICL. Very suspicious that the guy came all the way from India to South Africa to visit Kemp

 

[MenInG]

Looks like an endemic issue in SA cricket - needs rooting out asap

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

given their currency/economic woes, such a thing is inevitable

 

[Abdullah719]

TSOTSOBE BANNED FOR 8 YEARS UNDER CSA ANTI-CORRUPTION CODE

CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA (CSA) has banned former Proteas and Highveld Lions player Lonwabo Tsotsobe for several breaches of its Anti-Corruption Code for Personnel (“the Code”). Tsotsobe, who has admitted contraventions of the Code, has been banned for eight years.

The banning of Tsotsobe follows a lengthy and detailed investigation and the previous imposition by CSA in January 2016 of a twenty-year ban on former Proteas, Lions and Titans player Gulam Bodi after Bodi had admitted charges of contriving or attempting to fix matches in the 2015 RAM SLAM T20 Challenge Series. Five other players (Jean Symes, Ethy Mbhalati, Pumelela Matshikwe, Thami Tsolekile and Alviro Petersen) have since admitted contraventions of the Code and have been banned for periods ranging between two to twelve years.

Tsotsobe has admitted one charge of contriving to fix a match in the 2015 RAM SLAM; two charges of failing to disclose to the CSA Anti-Corruption Officer the full details of an approach to engage in corrupt conduct; two charges of failing to disclose full details of matters evidencing a breach of the Code by another participant; three charges of failing or refusing to co-operate with an investigation (including failing to provide accurate and complete information); and two charges of obstructing or delaying the investigation by destroying evidence and concealing information that was relevant to the investigation.

Commenting on the ban, CSA Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, said:

“Mr Tsotsobe has ultimately admitted his mistakes in contravening the CSA Anti-Corruption Code and, whilst no fix actually took place, it is clear that he was active in plans to participate in spot fixing and hence the sanction imposed on him.”

Due to the international nature of match fixing activities, the CSA investigation had involved many painstaking months of gathering evidence and co-operating closely with the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit. The investigators had also engaged with the South African Police Services, the Hawks and independent forensic experts during their investigation.

Commenting in response to the ban, Tsotsobe said, “I wish to apologise to cricket lovers all over the world. I was, at the time, in a very vulnerable financial state and this dilemma too easily persuaded me to participate in spot fixing. There are no words to describe the regret I have in relation to my actions and I hope that the cricket world could consider my apology and understand my deepest feeling of remorse.”

The ban in terms of CSA’s Anti-Corruption Code prevents Tsotsobe from participating in, or being involved in any capacity in, any international or domestic match or any other kind of function, event or activity (other than authorized anti-corruption education or rehabilitation programmes) that is authorized, organized, sanctioned, recognized or supported in any way by CSA, the ICC, a National Cricket Federation or any member of a National Cricket Federation.

The ban will run for eight years from 24 April 2017, which is the date that Tsotsobe was provisionally suspended from participating in all cricketing activities following the notice of charge issued to him by CSA.

The Independent Chairperson of CSA’s Anti-Corruption Unit and former Judge President of the North and South Gauteng High Courts, Bernard Ngoepe said, “The investigative team have completed a thorough and far-reaching investigation. I am satisfied that all the culprits have been duly prosecuted under the Code and, unless we receive or uncover any new or previously undisclosed information, we believe we can now bring this matter to a close. We were fortunate that in this case the reporting structures that CSA and SACA have put in place worked. However, we must remain vigilant to the continuing threat of corrupt activity in domestic and international cricket.”

Due to the unavailability of the CSA chief executive at present, a full media briefing will be held at a later date to be advised.

 

[j_kazmi]

Seems like CSA handled this issue so efficiently and professionally. Why couldn't the PCB handle their case like this.

 

[James]

[MENTION=132715]Varun[/MENTION] [MENTION=1842]James[/MENTION]

really pathetic that people are already calling him a criminal when there is no evidence yet or charges, just investigation. I know lobsy and hes innocent.

Great post dude...

 

[Hitman]

Why do players opt to fix matches? Do they have no brains? Anyone and their dog knows it's virtually impossible to get away with such things these days.

 

[Gotham Cronie]

Why do players opt to fix matches? Do they have no brains? Anyone and their dog knows it's virtually impossible to get away with such things these days.

How could you possibly know that? Who knows how many successful fixes their have been?

 

[Gabbar Singh]

[MENTION=132715]Varun[/MENTION] [MENTION=1842]James[/MENTION]

really pathetic that people are already calling him a criminal when there is no evidence yet or charges, just investigation. I know lobsy and hes innocent.

Innocent? He's accepted the charges, he's a fixer.

The next stage will be the race card being played, just like the Indian and Pakistan players who play the nationalist/religious card when they are caught fixing.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Three former South African cricketers implicated in a match-fixing scheme during the 2015/2016 domestic T20 Ram Slam Challenge - Ethy Mbhalati, Thami Tsolekile and Lonwabo Tsotsobe - have been arrested by the Hawks

In statement released on Friday, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) - known as the Hawks - confirmed the news.

Tsotsobe was arrested on Friday, Tsolekile on Thursday and Mbhalati - the only one of the three players not to have represented his country - was arrested back on 18 November.

"The arrests come after a meticulous investigation by the Serious Corruption Investigation component of the DPCI, following allegations reported by a whistleblower in October 2016," the Hawks statement read.

Mbhalati has already appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court and the matter was postponed to 20 February 2025 for further instructions.

"Tsolekile and Tsotsobe were both charged with five counts of corruption under Section 15 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004 (PRECCA)," the statement continued.

"They both appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court today, 29 November 2024 where their case was postponed to 26 February 2025 for disclosure."

In a scandal that dates back around eight years, the matter was first reported by Cricket South Africa's (CSA) Anti-Corruption Officer after suspicions of match-fixing emerged involving former Proteas player Gulam Bodi.

Bodi approached several players to participate in fixing three T20 Ram Slam matches, working in collusion with bookmakers from India. He was arrested in July 2018, pleaded guilty to eight counts of corruption, and was sentenced to five years' direct imprisonment in October 2019.

The other accused - former Lions batter Jean Symes - was arrested in May 2021 and pleaded guilty to one count of corruption and was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years.

Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, National Head of the DPCI, commended his team for their unwavering commitment to tackling corruption, even in sectors where it often goes unnoticed.

"Corruption undermines the integrity of sport, and the Hawks are determined to safeguard the values of fairness and professionalism in all areas of society. We thank Cricket South Africa for their co-operation and commitment to addressing this scourge," he said.

Source: News 24

 

[Kianig89]

Tsotsobe the left arm seamer who got 5fer in Dubai against Pakistan back in 2010 and Tesheike at one stage captained SA.

Well they are now in elite company