JOHANNESBURG, JUNE 10: Disgraced South African cricketers Hansie Cronje, Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams have been offered immunity from criminal prosecution if they reveal all about their alleged involvement in match-fixing, an official said today.Sipho Ngwema, spokesman for the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions, said public prosecutor Bulelani Ngcuka offered the three the deal in a gesture aimed at ending corruption in South African cricket as soon as possible.``We want to make sure that each person who participated in match-fixing is exposed,'' he was quoted as saying by the South African Press Association.``The condition is that Judge Edwin King must be happy that the testimonies (of the three) were frank and honest and that they participated with the Commission fully.''The offer from the South African Government will not affect any action the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB) might take against Cronje, who has been the subject of damaging disclosures on the first three days of the King Commission's hearings in Cape Town.Officials hoped the offer would result in other people possibly involved being summoned to the Commission, Ngwema said. Cases of other people who might come forward with information would be dealt with individually, he said.Gibbs and Williams testified this week before the Commission that they had accepted Cronje's offers of $ 15,000 each to perform poorly in a March 19 match against India. Both said they reneged on the agreement and did not receive any money.Cronje has repeatedly denied fixing matches though he has admitted taking $ 8,200 dollars from a bookmaker in exchange for information during a triangular series at home with England and Zimbabwe. He was fired as captain in April.Cronje's legal advisers were considering the offer. Cronje's lawyer John Dickerson refused to comment.Ali Bacher, Managing Director of the UCB, said the players would still face action from the Board if they have contravened the codes of conduct of the UCB and the International Cricket Council. Gibbs was dropped on Friday from the South African team which tours Sri Lanka and Australia in July and August. Cronje is expected to testify next week.
