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Judge King warns witnesses to tell whole story

The inquiry into the Hansie Cronje scandal kicked off on Wednesday with a stern warning from investigating Judge Edwin King that witnesses could face prosecution if they failed to answer satisfactorily "any question lawfully put to them".

The 70-year-old English-born Judge, who recently retired as judge president of the Western Cape, said all the hearings would be held in public unless he ruled that any particular evidence or portion of evidence should be held in camera.

"I dont see that happening frequently, or at all," he said.

The hearing began hours after newspaper reports hit the street that former captain Cronje had admitted his voice was to be heard on tape recordings Indian police have made of a cricketer and bookmaker conspiring to fix a match.

Cronje, who was fired in April for taking money from a bookmaker, was not present as the King Commission began its work in a crowded hall in Cape Town Wednesday morning. But South African players Daryll Cullinan and Derek Crookes were in the hearing room and were expected to be among the first witnesses, while Cronje's father Ewie took his place in the public seats.

The Minister of Sport, Ngonde Balfour, and Minister of Justice, Penuell Maduna, were also present together with a large media contingent, who were kept waiting on the steps of the building while what Judge King said was "preparatory work" was going on inside.

The judge said he wanted to remove any perception that the inquiry was planned as "any sort of revenge or witch hunt. We are here to establish the truth."

After Judge King's opening remarks, the hearing adjourned to enable television cameras to be removed before the start of testimony.

Judge King was appointed in May after Hansie Cronje admitted he had received money from an Indian bookmaker. Cronje's admission followed an announcement by New Delhi police on April 7 that they had laid charges of involvement in match-fixing against Cronje and three teammates, Herschelle Gibbs, Nicky Boje and Pieter Strydom. The police released transcripts of conversations between Cronje and Sanjeev Chawla, an alleged bookmaker, recorded while the South African team was in the Indian capital in March.

Cronje initially denied the charges but four days later admitted in a 3 am phone call to South African cricket chief Ali Bacher that he had been "dishonest" in his denial and that he had accepted money from a bookmaker.

The confession came on the eve of a one-day series against World Cup champions Australia. Cronje was immediately fired as captain and replaced by Shaun Pollock. The contracts of the South African players expired at the end of April and Cronje's contract was not renewed.

Cronje said he had taken an amount of cash in US dollars, later claimed to be 8,200 dollars, to provide "information and forecasts". He said he had been given the money in Johannesburg before the team left for India.

South Africa were involved in a triangular series against England and Zimbabwe at the time. Cronje has continued to deny involvement in match-fixing and says that he did not take money to bribe other players.

According to Cronje's pastor, Ray MacCauley, of the Rhema Church, Cronje claims he was "playing" with the bookmakers and "leading them on".

In a confession made to McCauley, which was leaked to the media last week, Cronje said he had "taken his eyes off Jesus" and allowed "Satan to dictate terms" to him.

The commissions terms of reference include the period from November 1, 1999 to April 17 2000 and the South African tour of India in 1996 when Cronje was allegedly made an offer to "throw" a one-day match against India in Bombay.