Westfield charged with fraud

Former Essex cricketer Mervyn Westfield charged with conspiracy to defraud over claims he deliberately played poorly

LONDON: Former Essex cricketer Mervyn Westfield has been charged with conspiracy to defraud over claims that he deliberately played poorly, said England’s Crown Prosecution Service.

Westfield is alleged to have dishonestly agreed to bowl his first over in a 40-over match between Durham and Essex on September 5, 2009, in such a way as to allow a certain number of runs to be scored. He is now due to appear at the City of London Magistrates’ Court on September 23.

He was originally arrested in May at the same time as Pakistan and Essex leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

Westfield, 22, is accused of conspiring to defraud the club’s members, his teammates and spectators at the match, but has been released by Essex police on bail.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2010.