Lanka Premier League (LPL) Dambulla Thunders franchise owner Thamim Rahman has pleaded guilty in a high-profile match-fixing case and was fined Rs. 24 million, with a five-year suspended prison sentence imposed by the Colombo High Court on Wednesday.
High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunge delivered the sentence, marking one of the highest fines imposed under Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act No. 24 of 2019.
Rahman was indicted over allegations that he attempted to pressure a player into match-fixing during the 2024 LPL season through the team’s then director and manager. He entered a guilty plea to conclude the case, according to court proceedings.
The investigation was conducted by the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit in coordination with Sri Lanka’s Special Police Investigations Unit for the Prevention of Sports Offences, before being referred to the Attorney General’s Department.
The indictment was filed by Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, with the case prosecuted by State Counsel Akila Dalpadathu under the supervision of Senior Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena.
Rahman, a Bangladeshi national who also holds British citizenship, was represented in court by President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa.
The case forms part of a wider probe into corruption allegations during the 2024 LPL season, which led to the suspension of the Dambulla Thunders franchise.
In a related development, a Sri Lankan court in November issued an arrest warrant for Pakistani national Mujeeb ur Rehman, who reportedly served as team manager of the franchise, for allegedly aiding a match-fixing scheme. (Newswire)