The Colombo High Court on Tuesday imposed a fine of US$77,500, approximately Rs. 24 mn, on Tamim Rahman, the owner of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) franchise Dambulla, after he pleaded guilty to attempting to manipulate the 2024 LPL tournament. This is the highest fine ever imposed on a match-fixing accused in Sri Lanka.
The investigation was conducted by ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) investigator Sunny Oberoi along with Special Investigation Unit of the Ministry of Sports and the Attorney General’s Department.
The charges relate to incidents alleged to have taken place between April 19 and 30, 2024. Prosecutors told court that Rahman, described as a person connected to cricket, acted in concert with Mujeed Ur Reheman, Bilal Orka Hossain, Iqbal Javed, and other unidentified individuals, with the common intention of influencing the outcome, progress, or conduct of the Lanka Premier League.
The first charge alleges that the accused conspired to influence “the result, progress, conduct, or any other aspect” of the LPL by directly or indirectly approaching P. G. G. Chandima Sashrika Peiris Pussegolla, a Director of the Dambulla Thunders franchise. According to the indictment, Pussegolla was instructed to identify a player or players who could be “controlled” by Rahman and his associates. This conduct was said to be in violation of Section 9 of the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act No. 24 of 2019, read with Section 5(c) of the same Act, as well as Sections 102 and 113B of the Penal Code relating to abetment and criminal conspiracy.
The second charge pertains to the offence of “Corruption of Sports”, alleging that Rahman and the other suspects attempted to induce Pussegolla to provide access to a controllable player with the intention of corrupting a match. This offence also falls under Section 9 read with Section 5(c) of the Sports Act, together with Section 32 of the Penal Code, which deals with acts committed by several persons in furtherance of a common intention.
Summons have also been issued on Pakistani national Mujeed Ur Reheman, who, along with the other suspects, is reported to have left the country shortly after Rahman’s arrest.
