Court orders authorities to extradite accused Patel back to Sri Lanka
After imposing a hefty fine and a four-year imprisonment sentence on Akash Patel, also known as Yogi Patel, the Manager of Kandy Samp Army, in absentia for attempted match-fixing, Matale High Court Judge Ravindra Premaratne ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to report to the court on how the accused managed to leave the country despite being under a court-imposed travel ban.
The Matale High Court completed the trial in Patel’s absence in February and delivered the judgment this week. In addition to a Rs. 85 million fine and the prison term, Patel was ordered to pay Rs. 2 million as damages to Upul Tharanga, who reported the case.
The court also directed authorities to arrest and produce anyone who had assisted Patel in absconding. It was revealed in court that Patel had not exited the country through official channels, prompting the CID to initiate investigations into those who may have aided him. A copy of the court order was directed to the Officer-in-Charge of the Criminal Investigation Department at Katunayake Airport.
Patel was charged with match-fixing after Sri Lanka’s chief cricket selector, Upul Tharanga, disclosed that the Indian national had approached him to fix matches during the 2024 Legends League tournament at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
Following a thorough investigation and witness testimonies, the trial proceeded in Patel’s absence, as he is believed to have fled to the USA. A U.S. citizen, Patel was initially produced in court on March 13, 2024, after charges were filed against him. The trial was scheduled to conclude by January 31, 2025.
Patel had been 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 until the trial concluded.
Senior State Counsel Udara Karunathilake, with State Counsel Sashikala Kumari, representing the Attorney General’s Department, informed the court that authorities would work with respective government bodies in the USA to extradite Patel back to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka became the first South Asian country to criminalise match-fixing with the introduction of 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.