Mongia denies spot fixing charges

Lou Vincent (right) departs Southwark Crown Court with his wife Susie after giving evidence in the perjury trial of former New Zealand cricketer Chris Cairns in London.

Vincent told the court that he had been “disgusted at reading the lies from Chris Cairns” during the libel case but, when pressed by the defence on why he had not given evidence against his former captain, he claimed his allegiance was still to Cairns, and that he feared he would not be paid if he testified against him. Cairns had successfully sued Modi for libel due to a tweet that accused him of match-fixing.

“You’re doing what you’re doing for the greater good of Lou Vincent”, the lawyer said.

Vincent and his wife Susie had spoken of a “book” to New Zealand Players’ Association boss Heath Mills, and even mentioned its title, Pownall said.

The 38-year-old Mongia had played 57 ODIs and 1 T20 worldwide for India in his six-year global career with most notable achievement being a member of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup team.

Mr Laidlaw further suggested to Vincent that by taping the Skype call, it would’ve been useful information to blackmail Cairns or help Modi.

“At that point of time, I was mates with Cairns, so of course”, said Vincent.

Vincent, banned from cricket for life after admitting to match fixing, said he recorded Fitch-Holland out of concern he would be pressured into giving false evidence to help Cairns.

Why, Laidlaw wondered, had Vincent taped a Skype conversation he had in March 2011 with his client, a legal adviser to Cairns?

Lou Vincent is one of the witnesses in the perjury trial of Chris Cairns.

An email chain produced by the defence showed that Vincent had been in contact with Modi in 2010, asking whether it was his intention to go “head-to-head” with Cairns in court.

He also offered to meet him for coffee, but Vincent said the meeting never took place.

Cairns then asked Vincent to give a statement on his behalf in the libel case, which Vincent refused.

Vincent replied: “No, because I was working for him and he needed me to help him”.

The claim was refuted by Cairns’ defense and said that Cairns approached Vincent only because there was no corrupt activity between the two and they wanted the truth to be heard.

Cairns is facing a charge of perjury relating to a 2012 libel trial, and a charge of perverting the course of justice for allegedly trying to get Vincent to provide a false statement in that case. In the emails Vincent called Cairns “lad”, hoped his family were OK in the Christchurch earthquakes and mentioned the couple’s soon-to-be born baby.

It was put it to him he did so, thinking Fitch-Holland was going to offer him money to make a statement.

“You knew that by 2013 your number was up….You thought to yourself, if I can give them a big enough name that will help you”.

Mr Pownall also questioned whether Vincent continued to fix matches after Cairns was suspended from the Indian Cricket League (ICL) in October 2008.

“I have told the truth”, replied Vincent.

“He said, “I know you’re dirty, and I know Chris is dirty as well”, Vincent told the court on Wednesday.

Fleming had a reputation for being “incorruptible”, said Mr Pownall, and the former captain accused Vincent of match-fixing. It happened during a Champions League game when Fleming, coach of Chennai Super Kings met Vincent who was playing for Auckland.

Vincent agreed the statement was untrue, and said: “Yes, I’m ashamed of having to spend two hours lying to respectable figures”.

“It was harrowing… I quickly closed the conversation down…it didn’t make me feel good as a human being and it made me want to run and hide”. Brendon McCullum and Shane Bond are scheduled to be the next witnesses tomorrow.