Howzat for a Scandal?


The Sunday Times reported yesterday that the Pakistan cricketers convicted over their involvement in a betting scam - were granted more that £100,000 in legal aid to fund their defence.

Despite the fact that during their trial - part of their defence was that the cricketers were wealthy men - who had no need to cheat and get involved in betting scams - just to make an extra bob or two.

Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and Mazhar Majeed - were all given prison sentences for their involvement in the match fixing scandal.

Which required the delivery of 'no balls' at precise times - during a match with England last year.

According to the Sunday Times, Butt's lawyer told the jury at Southwark crown court that his client's earnings over the previous seven years had been £1.2 million - a fortune in Pakistan.

The lawyer argued - unssuccessfully as it turned out - that as a result Salman Butt had no need to cheat - but that conveniently ignores the fact that he was of course both greedy and corrupt.

The Legal Services Commission - which confirmed to the Sunday Times that legal aid had been granted - may now pursue repayment.

But you have to ask why all this money - £100,000 - was ever granted in the first place.

So the upshot is that even though their clients were clearly as guilty as sin - and certainly not impoverished - certain lawyers are now laughing all the way to the bank.

Sounds like a racket - not criminal justice.

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