Former Malaysian national coach maintains innocence

SINGAPORE, Oct 10 (Reuters) Malaysia's former national team coach Chow Kwai Lam is maintaining his innocence in the face of charges he tried to fix a Singaporean domestic soccer match last year, his lawyer has said.

The 63-year-old was charged in the Subordinate Courts in August with attempting to bribe one of his former Paya Lebar-Punggol players last year to throw a football match in the S-League.

''Mr Chow still maintains his innocence,'' Singapore's Today newspaper quoted Chow's lawyer Lim Khoon as saying today following Chow's pre-trial conference.

''We're currently sorting out certain procedures such as interviewing of witnesses. Nonetheless, he is in good health.'' Lim also confirmed that no additional charges have been filed against Chow, the newspaper reported.

His next pre-trial conference is scheduled for Oct. 30. If found guilty, Chow faces a maximum fine of (62,850 dollar), a maximum prison term of five years, or both.

REUTERS AY VC1010