Two Under 21 national football players in court in relation to bribery scandal

Kyle Cesare, 20, and Emanuel Briffa, 22, both Under 21 national football team players, today were accused of agreeing to fixing a match between Malta and Montenegro. It was said that nine players were approached but since only two were interested, the entire plan was abandoned.

Ronnie Mackay, 34 from St Julian's, is being accused of organising the bribery, denied all charges, along with the two footballers.

The charges were filed after another footballer, Seyble Zammit, 21, was arraigned in connection with this match-fixing scandal. Zammit was subsequently exempted from punishment due to admitting to all charges and coming forward to the authorities with all the details of the case. His testimony in April was heard behind closed doors and Magistrate Saviour Demicoli had applied provisions of the Prevention of Corruption (Players) Act.

The Malta Football Association's Integrity Officer, Frans Tabone, filed a report a few days after the Montenegro game on 23 March, which sparked police investigations into the potential bribery.

This afternoon, Zammit once again took to the stand, this time as a witness, saying that he had been approached by Mackay to throw the game for around €6,000. The court heard that his job was to approach players and report back with the names of those interested.

Zammit said that the only reason the plan had been abandoned was that Briffa and Cesare were the only two players interested in the case and Mackay wanted at least five on board. He said that he had met Briffa at Bir id-Deheb and Cesare near the national pool in Tal-Qroqq.

Zammit claimed that Mackay told him he would have to refund €7,000 to pay for the travel costs of an unidentified Asian man who was allegedly behind the entire bribery scheme. Following the failure of the Montenegro fixing, attention then went to the Czech Republic game to try to save face.

Inspector Sean Scicluna gave details on the statements given by the defendants and said that Briffa was not a suspect until Zammit pointed him out. Briffa said that he had been offered €3,000, but did not accept. Cesare, on the other hand, also said that he was approached by Zammit. He also claimed to have refused the offer.

Mackay, who was abroad until mid-April, was spoken to once he came back to Malta. He denied any involvement in the scandal claiming that Zammit had approached him to start online betting, but Mackay said he refused to open an account on his behalf.

The case was presided by Magistrate Joe Mifsud. Dr Giannella de Marco is appearing for Mr Mackay, Dr Stefano Filletti is appearing for Mr Briffa, and Clifton Galea is representing Mr Cesare. Lawyers Dr Adrian Camilleri and Dr Chris Bonnet are appearing as parte civile for the MFA.

from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/1r3O0yC
via IFTTT