The Manager of the Kandy Samp Army in the 2024 Legends League, Akash (Yogi) Patel, has been sentenced in absentia to four years of imprisonment by the Matale High Court over a match-fixing attempt.
The Indian national was found guilty of approaching Sri Lanka’s Chief Cricket Selector, Upul Tharanga, to fix matches during the 2024 Legends League tournament held at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
In addition to the jail sentence, Patel was fined Rs. 85 million and ordered to pay Rs. 2 million to Upul Tharanga as compensation for defamation.
The trial proceeded in Patel’s absence, following a detailed investigation and witness testimonies. During the previous hearing, Patel failed to appear in court, and investigations revealed that he had likely fled the country via a sea route.
The Judge has also instructed the CID to conduct a full probe into how Patel exited the country, despite a court-imposed travel ban. (NewsWire)