Extradition part of inquiry: envoy

NEW DELHI, APRIL 13. South Africa today said the issue of extradition of the sacked cricket captain, Hansie Cronje, to India would be part of the process of full-fledged inquiry by an independent judicial commission into allegations of match-fixing during his recent tour of India.

The commission, headed by a senior South African judge, would make recommendations including imposition of penalties against Cronje and other players if the allegations were found true, the South African High Commissioner to India, Ms. M. E. Nkoana Mashabane, told reporters here.

``The South African government has begun the process of instituting an independent, judicial commission of inquiry, headed by a senior judge to investigate all aspects of the recent allegations. Extradition is not the beginning of the process but will be part of it if there was a need for that,'' she said when asked whether her Government would entertain a request for extradition of Cronje to New Delhi.

Asked whether Pretoria would assist the Delhi police in deciphering certain conversation in Afrikaans in the tapes, the envoy said, ``we will extend full cooperation to Indian authorities. But we will wait till we get a request from the Indian police through the External Affairs Ministry.''

Cronje has acknowledged ``not having been entirely honest with everybody'', and to having been in contact with certain individuals who had been trying to influence matches. He also indicated that he received money in a separate incident not related to South Africa's tour of India,'' Ms. Mashabane said quoting a statement released by the South African Sports Minister, Mr. Ngconde Balfour.

She said that in view of this development, Cronje would continue to be suspended as captain and player of the national team pending the outcome of further investigations.

Terming the incident unfortunate, Ms. Mashabane said ``the relationship between our country and India remains unaffected by this issue''.

- PTI

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