English match fixing trio plead not guilty to charges

English professional footballers Michael Boateng , Hakeem Adelakun  and Moses Swaibu, pleaded not guilty  to criminal charges made against them on football match fixing and bribery grounds.  The three man had been arrested by UK Police and  UK anti corruption  taskforce, with regards to investigations on suspicious betting activity

The three professional footballers appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday the 24th of March 2013, to hear charges made against them  on one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and a further count on  plotting to professional sports match fixing. The trio are set to stand trial for the charges in May19th of this year, the trial is expected to run for two weeks.

The footballers are alleged to have conspired together with  Singaporean nationals Krishna Ganeshan and Chann Sankaran, who have both pleaded not guilty to three counts of bribery and one of conspiracy to commit bribery. Boateng, Swaibu and Adelakun have been granted unconditional bail,  Ganeshan and Sankaran are set to remain in custody.

The trio of footballers are currently registered with South East football club – Whitehawk FC. The alleged match fixing offences took place between November 1 and November 27 last year. Boateng joined Whitehawk in the summer following spells with Newport County, Bristol Rovers and Sutton United. Adelakun has previously played for Crystal Palace. Swaibu, from Bermondsey, South London, played for Bromley FC in the Conference South.
The defendants have not made any public statements regarding the their trial