AG’s Dept. appeal against ‘inadequately lenient’ verdict on Indian T10 team owner
The Attorney General’s Department has filed an appeal against what it considers an inadequately lenient sentence imposed on an Indian businessman convicted of sports corruption during a Sri Lankan cricket tournament.
Prem Mannesh Thakkar, a Gujarat-based investor involved in Sri Lanka Super T10 League, was sentenced to a Rs. 6 million fine by the High Court of Kandy in May 2025 for attempting to corrupt players during the Sri Lanka Super League T10 tournament.
The case emerged in December 2024 when West Indian cricketer Andre Fletcher reported corruption attempts to the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit. Fletcher, who had been recruited to play for the Galle Marvels team owned by Thakkar, alleged that the businessman offered him USD 15,000 to deliberately fail in a match and USD 30,000 to captain the team while using specific bowlers at predetermined times.
Prem Thakkar was remanded earlier upon the initial hearing - Pic by Akila Jayawardene
According to court documents, Fletcher recorded a subsequent conversation with Thakkar at a Kandy hotel poolside, working with ICC officials to gather evidence. The recording, along with CCTV footage from multiple locations, formed the basis of the prosecution’s case.
Thakkar was arrested in January 2025 and later confessed to the charges under Section 127 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act. He pleaded guilty when indicted before the High Court of Kandy in March 2025.
The Attorney General’s appeal argues that the Rs. 6 million fine, coupled with a two-year suspended sentence and Rs. 1 million compensation to Fletcher, is ‘manifestly erroneous’ and fails to reflect the gravity of the offense. The prosecution had highlighted Thakkar’s substantial financial capacity, noting his USD 1.425 million investment in the tournament and his ability to spend USD 28,000 in a single night of gambling.
The Prevention of Offences Relating to the Sports Act allows for fines up to Rs. 100 million for corruption offences, making it one of the highest financial penalties in Sri Lankan criminal law. The Attorney General contends that the light sentence undermines the deterrent effect necessary to combat sports corruption and fails to adequately compensate Fletcher, who lost approximately USD 26,250 in contract payments after withdrawing from the tournament.
The appeal also seeks a foreign travel ban on Thakkar to prevent him from leaving Sri Lanka while the case is pending. The Court of Appeal is expected to hear the matter in the coming months.