ACB appoints special investigator

Former National Crime Authority member Greg Melick was named this afternoon by the Australian Cricket Board as its Special Investigator to explore allegations of match-fixing and corruption in Australian cricket

Rick Eyre

25-May-2000

50 year-old Melick, who presided over more than 500 NCA hearings before leaving the Authority to enter practice as a barrister, will have the following responsibilities:

Immediately examine the allegations concerning Australia's 1994/95 tour of Sri Lanka and Pakistan that appeared in a British newspaper on Sunday to establish if there is any substance to the claims that warrants further investigation;

Respond to a wide ranging brief to investigate any other credible allegations against current or former Australian players or officials that may arise;

Cooperate fully with the ICC Anti-Corruption Commission when that person is appointed;

Establish the identity of any person both within and outside the game who seeks or who has sought to corrupt any current or former Australian player or official;

Recommend to the ACB Chief Executive Officer that charges be laid against a person under the ACB Code of Behaviour where there is evidence that a person has breached the Code;

Bring to the attention of the relevant law enforcement agency any evidence of any criminal activity by any Australian player or official or by any other person seeking to influence any Australian player or official uncovered during the course of his investigations; and

Act as Prosecutor in Code of Behaviour hearings where charges are laid as a result of his investigation.

ACB chief executive Mal Speed said today that Mr Melick was the ideal candidate for the role. "We are delighted Greg accepted this position. He has a free hand to investigate any credible allegation of corruption in the Australian game," said Mr Speed.

"While I hope that we have to use Greg's skills very rarely this is clearly a vital role. It complements our existing anti-corruption education and regulation programs and further strengthens the ACB's ability to protect the game in Australia against this problem."

Melick is not unknown to members of the Australian Cricket Board. According to a guest column Speed wrote for the "Business Review Weekly" magazine in January 1999, Melick has been hosting dinners during the Sydney Test for ACB directors and visiting dignitaries for several years.

Australia