ICC announces Code of Conduct hearing into allegations against Maurice Odumbe

A formal hearing into allegations that Kenyan player, Maurice Odumbe, had inappropriate contact with a bookmaker and influenced the result of matches will be held during May the International Cricket Council announced today.

ICC Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, said that the hearing is as a result of an investigation by the organisation's Anti Corruption and Security Unit and a recommendation by the ICC's Code of Conduct Commission Chairman, the Hon. Michael Beloff, QC which was accepted by the ICC Executive Board in New Zealand earlier this week.

"As a result of the work of the Anti Corruption and Security Unit and on the recommendation of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Commission, the Executive Board accepts that there is a prima-facie case against Mr Odumbe and has directed the Kenyan Cricket Association (KCA) and the ICC to conduct a formal hearing into the matter," said Mr Speed.

Former Zimbabwean Supreme Court judge, Justice Ahmed Ebrahim, has been appointed by the ICC and the KCA to conduct the hearing which is expected to take place in Kenya in May.

Mr Speed said that the first task for the ICC was to formulate the Terms of Reference for the hearing and the specific charges to be laid against Mr Odumbe under the ICC's Code of Conduct.

"The immediate priority for the ICC is to formulate the Terms of Reference and the charges to be laid that will help guide Justice Ebrahim as he carries out this hearing. This will be done over the next two weeks."

Under the ICC's Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials, players can face penalties ranging from a suspension for a minimum of two years up to a life ban from the game depending on the nature of the charge.

Justice Ahmed Ebrahim is a lawyer who was called to the English Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1962.

He became the Director of Public Prosecutions in Zimbabwe before being appointed to Supreme Court Justice of Zimbabwe in 1990. He retired from the Supreme Court in May 2002.

He has 32 years experience in cricket administration at club, provincial and national level including serving as Zimbabwe Cricket Union disciplinary committee chairman and Zimbabwe Cricket Union coaching committee chairman.

He was a member of the ICC Cricket World Cup Contracts Committee and was an Appeals Commissioner for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003.

Brendan McClements
General Manager - Corporate Affairs
International Cricket Council
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