Tamim Rahman ready to admit guilt in LPL match-fixing bid

By Bhagya Silva  

The Attorney General today filed indictments against Tamim Rahman, the owner of the Dambulla Thunders cricket team, who is accused of attempting to influence a player participating in last year’s Lanka Premier League (LPL) to fix a match, before Colombo High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga.  

Subsequently, the court ordered that the accused be released on a cash bail of Rs. 200,000 and two sureties of Rs.10 million each. President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa, appearing for the accused informed court that his client, who had previously been arrested and remanded in connection with the incident, had since been released on bail. He further stated that the accused a Bangladeshi national holding British citizenship had been compelled to remain in Sri Lanka for more than one and a half years due to this case, causing serious disruption to both his personal and business affairs.  

Counsel further informed court that the accused was prepared to plead guilty to the charges and sought to conclude the case expeditiously, adding that representations in this regard had already been made to the Attorney General both orally and in writing. Representing the Attorney General, the State Counsel informed court that a date was required to obtain instructions regarding the representations made by the accused.  

Accordingly, the case was fixed for further hearing on December 8.