Former Black Cap faces UK perjury charges

Cricket365
September 12, 2014

Former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns, still under investigation for match-fixing, has revealed that he will be charged with perjury in the UK later this month, separate to his fixing charges.

The perjury case related to a trial he was part of in 2012, against Lalit Modi, where Cairns won the libel case against the IPL founder, who had said on Twitter that Cairns had not been part of an IPL auction because he was involved in fixing.

Cairns said in a statement on Friday: "I can confirm that I have now been notified by the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK that it is their intention to lay charges against me on 25 September for perjury.

"I'm obviously extremely disappointed, however, at least there will now be an opportunity to face my accusers in an open forum, with some rigour and proper process around that, so that I can clear my name once and for all.

"I hope that, through this forum, significant additional information will be flushed out that will help people to better assess the situation, as well as the character and motives of the parties involved.

"I wish this wasn't the situation – having been to Court before, I know what lies ahead and how gruelling it will be and how tough it is on my family – but I have nothing to hide and I will do whatever it takes to once again prove my innocence.

"I will continue to co-operate fully with the authorities, including voluntarily travelling to the UK to face these changes."

New Zealand Cricket responded to the news, saying: "New Zealand Cricket acknowledges the decision from British police to lay perjury charges against former New Zealand cricketer, Chris Cairns.

"These charges, quite different from proceedings conducted by cricket authorities into match-fixing and corruption, will now be tested in a British court of law and be subject to the normal processes of a criminal trial.

"Accordingly, NZC will not make any comment on the matter until such time all proceedings have been concluded."

Back in May, when Cairns was interviewed by the ECB and Metropolitan police, he insisted he was innocent of fixing, and has maintained that claim.

He said then: "I was not arrested or otherwise detained in London and I have not been charged with any offence, criminal or otherwise.

"I repeat that each and every allegation against me, that I have cheated at cricket or attempted to induce others to cheat at cricket, is false."