Johannesburg: Suspended Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola has lost a last-ditch attempt to stay his disciplinary hearing over huge IPL 2 and Champions League bonuses that he paid to himself and other CSA staff irregularly.
Advocate Karel Tip, the Independent Chairperson of Majola`s disciplinary hearing, has dismissed the special plea brought by Majola`s legal team, who earlier this week were confident that Majola would be back in his position before the Champions League kicks off here next week.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) said it would now continue with the hearing from Tuesday next week.
The matter has been dragging on for almost two years after the IPL season 2 was played in South Africa due to security concerns around elections at the time in India.
Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula had previously expressed concern at the long delay in the action against Majola, which was initially due for finalisation by May this year.
Majola earlier successfully argued for the removal of the first chairman of the hearing, who had made a preliminary ruling in favour of CSA, allegedly giving rise to concerns over a fair hearing for Majola.
Mbalula instituted the Nicholson inquiry as public pressure over internal wrangling at CSA saw president Mtutuzeli Nyoka ousted twice in absentia after he queried the bonuses, allegedly through interventions by Majola.
The inquiry recommended not just disciplinary action, but also the investigation of possible criminal charges against Majola for breaching his fiduciary duties as chief executive.
PTI
First Published: Friday, October 05, 2012, 22:08