Both
Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif have been found guilty of conspiracy to
accept corrupt payments and guilty of conspiracy to cheat by the jury
conducting criminal investigation against the pair in London.
Salman Butt was found guilty on both accounts in the initial stages, while Asif was found guilty of conspiring to cheat initially, but for the other charge, jury had to deliberate for about 3 hours to reach the decision. A unanimous decision was given on the charge of conspiracy to cheat, while jury was split to 10-2 in favour labelling them involved in conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments.
The 12-member jury was headed by Judge Justice Cooke, and this is 2oth day of the trial. The unanimous nature of the verdict was welcomed by the Crown Prosecution Service.
The final verdict, including that regarding Mohammad Amir who had pleaded guilty at the start of the trial on October 4, will be announced by Mr. Cooke on wednesday and thursday, till then both players will be on bail. The maximum sentence for cheating is two years, while for accepting illegal money, it is upto 7 years.
Although Mohammad Amir and Mazhar Majeed, trio’s agent, had forwarded written explanations pleading guilty of the charges, both Butt and Asif had denied. The trio was accused of bowling pre-determined no-balls in the Lord's Test in August 2010, in allegedly criminal association with their Mazhar Majeed.
Salman Butt’s wife, meanwhile gave birth to their second child half an hour before the verdict.
Matt Horne of the CPS said: ""All I want to say that this is cheating pure and simple. They let down everyone that bought a ticket and they let down children when they were role models to those very children who are playing such a special game. I think we all look forward to this game being played in its truest spirit as we go forward from these types of issues. I also acknowledge the role that investigative journalism has played in this case."
Both Asif and Butt showed no emotions as the Judge announced the verdict.
Salman Butt was found guilty on both accounts in the initial stages, while Asif was found guilty of conspiring to cheat initially, but for the other charge, jury had to deliberate for about 3 hours to reach the decision. A unanimous decision was given on the charge of conspiracy to cheat, while jury was split to 10-2 in favour labelling them involved in conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments.
The 12-member jury was headed by Judge Justice Cooke, and this is 2oth day of the trial. The unanimous nature of the verdict was welcomed by the Crown Prosecution Service.
The final verdict, including that regarding Mohammad Amir who had pleaded guilty at the start of the trial on October 4, will be announced by Mr. Cooke on wednesday and thursday, till then both players will be on bail. The maximum sentence for cheating is two years, while for accepting illegal money, it is upto 7 years.
Although Mohammad Amir and Mazhar Majeed, trio’s agent, had forwarded written explanations pleading guilty of the charges, both Butt and Asif had denied. The trio was accused of bowling pre-determined no-balls in the Lord's Test in August 2010, in allegedly criminal association with their Mazhar Majeed.
Salman Butt’s wife, meanwhile gave birth to their second child half an hour before the verdict.
Matt Horne of the CPS said: ""All I want to say that this is cheating pure and simple. They let down everyone that bought a ticket and they let down children when they were role models to those very children who are playing such a special game. I think we all look forward to this game being played in its truest spirit as we go forward from these types of issues. I also acknowledge the role that investigative journalism has played in this case."
Both Asif and Butt showed no emotions as the Judge announced the verdict.
Published in SP on 1/11/11
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