Former All White Faces Sentencing in Major Corruption Case

A former member of New Zealand’s national football team, known as the All Whites, has appeared in a New South Wales court to face sentencing for his involvement in a significant sports corruption case. The midfielder, alongside his former teammate Kearyn Baccus, was implicated in a scheme involving the manipulation of yellow cards, allegedly orchestrated by the team’s former captain, Ulises Davila.

Both Lewis and Baccus pleaded guilty in July to charges of engaging in conduct that corrupted a betting outcome. The sentencing, initially scheduled for this week, has been postponed until next Wednesday by Magistrate Michael Blair after extensive legal arguments were presented by Lewis’ defense team.

The defense, represented by lawyers Zemarai Khatiz and Gabrielle Bashir, is advocating for a community release order of two years, arguing against a conviction being recorded. Bashir highlighted that Lewis, aged 28, was “targeted and exploited” due to his known gambling addiction. She emphasized the substantial power imbalance between Lewis and Davila, stating, “Not only was he targeted, he was asked to do it by someone who was in a position of power and influence over him.”

The court was informed that Lewis has been diagnosed with a gambling addiction and is currently undergoing treatment. Furthermore, he has experienced severe mental health challenges following his arrest in May 2022, which involved a police raid at his apartment while he and his partner were asleep. Bashir described this incident, stating, “Not only was that apartment stormed, there is an image that went all around the world of him being cuffed and searched.”

Lewis has since been diagnosed with depression and PTSD as a result of this traumatic experience, which has led to significant personal ramifications. Bashir noted the lasting impact of the public scrutiny, asserting, “He has carried the scorn of the nation. It will indelibly follow him for the rest of his life.”

In contrast, the prosecution is seeking a community correction order for both Lewis and Baccus. They urged the magistrate to consider the implications of not entering convictions for the offense, particularly concerning the message it would send to the football community about integrity in the sport.

Davila, who is believed to be the primary figure in this alleged scheme with ties to a South American crime figure, has not yet entered a plea regarding the nine charges he faces. He is expected to appear in court later this month.

The upcoming decision from Magistrate Blair marks a pivotal moment in a case that has drawn considerable media attention and raised serious questions about corruption in Australian sports.