The lawyer for alleged Ram Slam match-fixer Gulam Bodi has thrown down the gauntlet, saying CSA must ‘make a deal, or we go to court’.
Ayoob Kaka, representing Bodi, said that his client had lodged ‘a plea’ in response to CSA’s charges against him as laid out in a 13-page document.
‘The ball is now in CSA’s court,’ he 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.’ Kaka would not reveal the nature of Bodi’s plea, saying, ‘I’d love to tell you but I can’t.’
CSA declined to comment on the case. Several other players are implicated but no details have been released.
Last month, CSA suspended Bodi and charged him with contriving to fix, or otherwise improperly influence, aspects of the 2015 Ram Slam T20 Challenge.
It is possible that the national prosecuting authority is involved. Legislation exists under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, which contains a clause for sporting events. A criminal action would also be supported by the minister of sport, Fikile Mbalula, who said in a radio interview that match-fixers must face the full force of the law.
