Suspended prison sentence for Bangladeshi businessman Tamim Rahman, who committed the Dambulla Thunders fraud

Colombo High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga yesterday (28) imposed a fine of two and a half crore rupees on the Bangladeshi national businessman who co-owned the Dambulla Thunders team, after he pleaded guilty to charges of influencing players to fix matches in the Lanka Premier League cricket tournament.

The judge sentenced the defendant to one year of rigorous imprisonment if he fails to pay the fine of approximately 2 1/2 crore rupees imposed, and additionally sentenced him to 4 years of rigorous imprisonment, suspended for a period of 5 years. Mr. Tamim Rahman, a Bangladeshi national businessman with British citizenship who co-owned the Dambulla Thunders team, was thus sentenced after pleading guilty to two charges brought against him under the Prevention of Sports Corruption Act.

The Attorney General has filed a case against the defendant under charges including instructing Chandima Sashrika Peiris Pussegoda, who was the director of the Dambulla Thunders cricket team, to 'find players who can be swayed', in Dambulla, between April 19 and 30, 2024, together with Mujibur Ur Rehman, Bilal Hussain, Iqbal Javed, and others unknown to the prosecution, with the aim of altering the outcome of the Lanka Premier League cricket tournament or obtaining results favorable to themselves. 

A case has been filed against the defendant under Sections 5(c), 9 of the Prevention of Sports Related Offences Act No. 24 of 2019, and Sections 102 and 113 of the Penal Code. When the case was called, the defendant, Mr. Tamim Rahman, a Bangladeshi national businessman with British citizenship who co-owned the Dambulla Thunders team, appeared in court.

President's Counsel Kalinga Indatissa, appearing for the defendant, stated, informing that his client pleads guilty to the relevant charges, and presented to the court an affidavit with written consent obtained from the defendant after explaining the facts regarding the plea of guilt.

President's Counsel Kalinga Indatissa stated that his client, who assisted in the investigations of the Special Police Unit for the Prevention of Sports Offences and the investigations conducted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) related to the incident, had been in remand custody for about one and a half years, and requested that a sentence be imposed that would allow his client to reintegrate into society.

Senior State Counsel Akila Dalpathadu, appearing for the prosecution, stated, requesting that an appropriate sentence be imposed on the defendant who pleaded guilty to the charges. After considering the facts, the judge imposed a fine of 12 million rupees for each charge, totaling 24 million rupees for the two charges, and ordered the case to be recalled on February 26 for the payment of the fines.

Additionally, the judge imposed a sentence of 2 years of rigorous imprisonment for each charge, totaling 4 years for the two charges, and suspended it for a period of 5 years. The judge also imposed a sentence of one year of rigorous imprisonment if the fines are not paid. When the case was called, on the instructions of Assistant Superintendent of Police Chanaka Silva, Director of the Anti-Sports Corruption Division, who led the investigations related to the incident, Chief Police Inspector Supul Vidanage, the OIC of that division, appeared.