Happy Valley match-fix trial told player was offered HK$20,000 cash

A Happy Valley soccer player accused of match-fixing was offered a stack of about HK$20,000 in cash by the team's sponsor, shortly after taking part in an allegedly rigged game, a court heard yesterday.

The revelation came after a video of a cautioned interview with Sasa Mus was shown in Eastern Court. He has pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud.

Mus, 28, has been accused of not playing to his best abilities in a game against Royal Southern, which took place in Tai Po on November 30. Happy Valley lost the game 2-4 after conceding four goals in the second half.

In the video, Mus, the team's then centre-back, said he was stopped by team sponsor Michael Liao Siwei on his way home after the game. He said Liao then offered him a stack of bank notes.

Speaking through an interpreter in the video, Mus said he did not know how much it was, but guessed it was about HK$20,000.

"[Liao] had a lot of money in his hands," he said, speaking through the interpreter.

Mus declined the offer because he smelled something fishy, he told officers from the Independent Commission Against Corruption in the video.