Former South Africa gamers Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Thamsanqa Tsolekile, and Ethy Mbhalati have been arrested on by the Directorate for Precedence Crime Investigation. This comes after the trio had been concerned in a match-fixing scandal in the course of the 2015/2016 T20 Ram Slam Problem.
As per the studies in Cricbuzz, it’s realized that Ethy Mbhalati was taken below the custody of police on November 18, whereas Tsolekile and Tsotsobe had been arrested on November 28 and 29, respectively. DPCI’s Severe Corruption Investigation unit was concerned in an intensive investigation, and therefore, they determined to arrest the trio.
Ex South Africa Gamers Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Thamsanqa Tsolekile and Ethy Mbhalati appeared within the Pretoria Specialised Industrial Crimes Courtroom
Ethy Mbhalati escaped a bit after showing within the Pretoria Specialised Industrial Crimes Courtroom. His case associated to the match-fixing was postponed to subsequent 12 months. The case was taken until twentieth February 2025 for additional directions.
However, Tsolekile and Tsotsobe had been subjected to 5 counts of corruption below the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Actions Act, 2004 (PRECCA). Their case was heard on Friday (November 29) and was postponed to February 26, 2025 for disclosure.
Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Thamsanqa Tsolekile, and Ethy Mbhalati had been discovered responsible of match-fixing after they had been satisfied by former South Africa participant Gulam Bodi. Cricket South Africa’s anti-corruption officer raised speculations about the identical and the Investigation was carried on.
It was revealed that Bodi handled Indian bookers and approached gamers to control three T20 Ram Slam matches. The Directorate for Precedence Crime Investigation then arrested the previous South Africa Nationwide Cricket Crew participant in July 2018.
Jean Symes and Pumi Matshikwe had been concerned in match-fixing together with Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Thamsanqa Tsolekile and Ethy Mbhalati
Gulam Bodi pleaded responsible to eight counts of corruption, and following that, he was sentenced to 5 years in jail in October 2019. He not solely satisfied Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Thamsanqa Tsolekile, and Ethy Mbhalati however some gamers as nicely to do match-fixing.
Jean Symes was additionally a part of the scandal. He was arrested in Might 2021 pleaded responsible to at least one rely of corruption, and acquired a four-year sentence (wholly suspended for 5 years). The opposite title within the saga was Pumi Matshikwe, who was arrested in February 2022 on related costs and was sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment (wholly suspended for 5 years).
We thank Cricket South Africa for his or her cooperation and dedication to addressing this scourge – Nationwide head of the DPCI, Lieutenant Normal Godfrey Lebeya
Nationwide head of the DPCI, Lieutenant Normal Godfrey Lebeya, made a powerful assertion, saying that they’re dedicated to holding equity and professionalism. He additionally thanked Cricket South Africa for his or her cooperation.
“Corruption undermines the integrity of sport. The Hawks are dedicated to upholding equity and professionalism in all spheres of society. We thank Cricket South Africa for his or her cooperation and dedication to addressing this scourge.”
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