Accused flees, Court order warrant to arrest match-fixing accused
The Matale High Court has issued an international arrest warrant for Akash Patel, also known as Yogi Patel, after he absconded from legal proceedings related to a match-fixing allegation. Patel, who managed the Kandy Samp Army during the Legends League 2024 in Pallekele, stands accused of attempting to influence former Sri Lanka cricketer and current National Selector Upul Tharanga to fix matches.
High Court Judge Ravindra Premaratne directed the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Sri Lanka Police to initiate the warrant through Interpol. This action follows reports that Patel fled the country, violating a court-imposed travel ban despite his passport being impounded.
Patel failed to appear in court on the scheduled date, with his legal representatives citing a medical emergency en route to the trial. President’s Counsel Mohan Weerakoon represented Patel in absentia, while Senior State Counsel (SSC) Udara Karunathilake, appearing for the Attorney General’s Department, revealed that Patel fled the country by boat.
SSC Karunathilake further requested the court summon Patel’s bail guarantors, as investigations revealed that he vacated the address provided to the court after December 31, 2024. Patel’s residence was reportedly rented only until December 6. Attorney-at-Law Ranjith Peellage, representing the bailers, stated that they were unaware of Patel’s current location. Meanwhile, Attorney-at-Law Mahesh Kalugampitiya, representing Patel, informed the court that his client had indeed left Sri Lanka.
The Matale High Court has rescheduled the hearing for January 30 and emphasised the urgency of Patel’s extradition.
Patel was released on bail in May 2024, under strict conditions, including two sureties of Rs. 500,000 each and a cash bail of Rs. 500,000. He was also barred from leaving the country pending the trial. The charges against him, filed under the Prevention of Sports-Related Corruption Act, allege that Patel offered financial rewards to Tharanga to engage in corrupt practices during the tournament.
The investigation was initiated after a retired Sri Lankan cricketer and a New Zealand player accused Patel and his assistant, Pachalodia Akash, of soliciting them to fix matches during the Legends League.
Sri Lanka, the first South Asian country to criminalise match-fixing, introduced the Prevention of Sports-Related Corruption Act in 2019. Under this law, offenders face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to USD 555,000.