Alviro Petersen, the former South Africa batsman, has denied accepting bribes to fix matches. The reaction comes after Petersen was charged with several breaches of Cricket South Africa’s Anti-Corruption Code for Personnel on Saturday (November 12). Petersen, however, admitted that “he played along with other persons involved in the scandal so as not to alert them to the fact that an investigation was underway.”
CSA had, on Saturday, suspended Petersen 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 a statement released by his lawyer Robin Twaddle, Petersen said he was “willing to take responsibility for his actions over this period, although they were taken in good faith under the circumstances.”
Petersen has also rejected a plea bargain from Cricket South Africa.
“Alviro acknowledges and admits that he played along with other persons involved in the scandal so as not to alert them to the fact that an investigation was underway. Alviro was in constant contact with the investigative team from the time he reported his knowledge of the scandal until Bodi was charged and he gave information that he had received of actual plans to influence matches to the investigative unit,” Twaddle’s statement read.
“Whilst Alviro is willing to take responsibility for his actions over this period, although they were taken in good faith under the circumstances at the time, he could not reach agreement with CSA because he believes that the sanctions which would have been imposed were disproportionate to Alviro’s actions and do not take sufficient cognisance of the defenses and mitigating circumstances put forward by Alviro.”
In March this year, Petersen said he had been approached for fixing matches, but he did not accept any bribes. He instead reported the approaches to South Africa Cricketers’ Association (SACA) and the Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU). He added that he was in daily communication with the ACSU and that they knew about his meetings and discussions with others.
Petersen has until the 26th of November to officially respond to CSA’s charges against him.