Tags:
Journalism of Courage
The South African woman who accused Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne of sending 8216;8216;raunchy8217;8217; text messages to her mobile, has been charged with extortion in her own country. Spokeswoman for South African police, Mary Martins-Engel Brecht, confirmed today that a charge of extortion had been laid against the 45-year-old Helen Cohen Alon in response to a complaint made by Gavin Varejes, an associate of the controversial bowler.
8216;8216;The charges being laid is extortion, the police are investigating one charge of extortion,8217;8217; Martins-Engelbrecht was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press. 8216;There8217;s a guy who I believe is some or other associate of Shane Warne 8211; I8217;m not quite sure what his relation is to Shane Warne 8211; he opened a case of extortion against a 45-year-old woman,8217;8217; she said.
A lawyer representing Cohen Alon though said formal charges had been laid over the affair, he would not go into detail. 8216;8216;Charges have been laid and the police are busy investigating those,8217;8217; lawyer Gary Moonsani said.
8216;8216;The investigation procedure takes a considerable time, that8217;s basically the reason. But formal charges have been laid in South Africa.8217;8217; Meanwhile, Moonsani said he and Cohen Alon would come to Australia with 8216;8216;an incredible story and evidence that go beyond simple text messages8217;8217;. However, Moonsani gave scant details of that evidence, but said it could have international consequences for cricket.
8216;8216;We are talking about activities that revolve around the game of cricket and that could affect the game worldwide,8217;8217; he said. 8216;8216;We need to question Mr Shane Warne8217;s association with Gavin Varejes very, very carefully indeed, because I believe here-in lies the rub. If this is opened, who knows what could be at stake at this stage. 8216;My client has been threatened, her life could be at stake at this stage.8217;8217;
Moonsani said the bulk of their evidence was 8216;8216;physical8217;8217; and described it as of 8216;8216;a highly sensitive nature8217;8217;. Varejes, who supposedly paid Cohen Alon 21,000 in hush money, said he regarded Warne as a good enough friend to protect him by paying the woman. But he also said yesterday he had not paid the South African woman a cent. The scandal that broke last Sunday, kicked off the worst week of Warne8217;s turbulent life. A 38-year-old Melbourne stripper has since claimed she had an affair with the champion leg-spinner last month.
