/ 15 April 2000

‘GO-BETWEEN’ DENIES MATCH-FIXING

HARIM Cassim, the South African businessman alleged to be the go-between in the Hansie Cronje scandal denied any wrong-doing on Friday and said he would cooperate in an inquiry into match-fixing. Harim Cassim was alleged in newspaper reports to be the businessman who introduced the former cricket captain to London-based Indian bookmaker Sanjiv Chawla. Chawla has separately denied any involvement in match-fixing. Cassim’s lawyer Itzie Blumberg said on Friday that his client denied any involvement in the affair. “It is totally untrue that my client has ever handed over any money or has knowledge of match-fixing,” said Blumberg. “I’m preparing a statement for the commission. My client is prepared to co-operate fully. “There has been a suggestion in the press that he is the South African businessman who introduced Hansie Cronje to the bookmaker overseas. My client emphatically denies that he is that man.”