Cairns to face perjury charges

ChrisCairns

Cairns – also said to be the subject of investigation by the International Cricket Council (ICC) – has continually denied reports he was involved in alleged spot-fixing during his career.

The perjury charge is in relation to a 2012 libel trial that Cairns won against former Indian Premier League (IPL) boss Lalit Modi.

Modi claimed that Cairns was fixing Indian Cricket League matches while playing for the Chandigarh Lions.

Cairns' lawyer, Andre Fitch-Holland, was arrested and bailed in March, and will also face charges.

A CPS spokesperson told Perform on Friday: "We can confirm that we have authorised police to charge Chris Cairns with one count of perjury, which arises from a libel trial held in the UK in March 2012.

"We have also authorised police to charge Andrew Fitch-Holland with one count of perverting the course of justice, which arises from actions taken relating to the same trial.

"Both suspects will be formally charged by police in due course."

Earlier on Friday, Cairns announced that he was expecting charges but that despite being "extremely disappointed", he was looking forward to clearing his name.

Cairns – who will voluntarily travel to the UK – told Fairfax Media: "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 released a brief statement on the matter on Friday, 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."

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