Cairns’ lawyers want Vincent prosecuted

Lawyers acting for former New Zealand cricketer Chris Cairns are pushing for Lou Vincent to be prosecuted by British police for match fixing.

Vincent, a former international teammate of Cairns, was fined and banned from cricket for life by the England and Wales Cricket board after admitting accepting money to fix matches while playing for Sussex in 2011. He also confessed to fixing as a Lancashire player in 2008.

However, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) hasn’t pressed criminal charges against Vincent.

Cairns’ lawyer Rhory Robertson said in a statement to Britain’s Telegraph newspaper that Vincent’s activities were referred to MPS on July 2 “with a view to his prosecution”.

Robertson point out that three Pakistan cricketers and Mervyn Westfield, an Essex fast bowler, have been jailed for corruption offences in recent years.

“Our legal system has as its core the principle that all people are treated equally before the law.

“No one, including the MPS and the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service), can be unreasonably selective as to when and against whom they apply the law.

“Lou Vincent’s admitted offences are serious and have so far gone unsanctioned. This failure to prosecute is unacceptable.”

Cairns is under investigation from the International Cricket Council for match fixing and has been interviewed by the MPS.

The MPS has passed on a file to the CPS over over suspicions of perverting the course of justice relating to the libel trial Cairns won against former Indian cricket boss Lalit Modi in 2012, who had accused him of fixing.

A ruling from the CPS is expected this month, The Telegraph reported.

The newspaper said Vincent, who is living in New Zealand, has continued to help the police with its investigation into Cairns.

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