Cronje forces delay in resumption of King Commission

Disgraced South African captain Hansie Cronje managed to postpone the resumption of the King Commission of Inquiry into match-fixing and corruption thanks to a court ruling on Friday.

In the Cape High Court, presiding judge Thembali Jali ruled that the Commission had breached its undertaking to consult with Cronje's legal team before deciding on a date for the second session of hearings. The first session ended in June.

Cronje's lawyers argued his legal team would not be available on January 25, the date announced for the resumption by judge Edwin King.

They also argued the Commission had failed in its undertaking to consult them on the date for the resumption and on which witnesses would be called and in which order.

The lawyers said the Commission had been witholding vital information regarding the first witnesses to be called and accused Commission officials of preventing them from cross-questioning the witnesses effectively.

In response, the Commission argued Cronje was not a criminal but merely a witness and therefore his attendance should not dictate the date for the resumption of hearings.

Judge Jali, however, ruled differently. "Mr Cronje has a major interest in proceedings and is not merely a witness. He is the main player," he said in his judgment.

No date has been agreed upon for the resumption.

Cronje was banned for life and stripped of the captaincy after admitting in April taking money from bookmakers. He is mounting a legal challenge against the ban.

Mail Cricket Editor

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