Court extends Swiss embassy staffer travel ban

Colombo (News 1st): The Criminal Investigations Department today (December 9) informed court it recorded a statement for 09 hours from the Sri Lankan employee attached to the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo, alleged to have been abducted and threatened. The CID said a statement was recorded from 05:30 PM yesterday (December 8) to 02:30 AM today, adding it would require recording another statement from her for on-going investigations. Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne ordered for the travel ban imposed on the Swiss Embassy employee to be further extended to the 12th of December. The Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) was ordered by the court to produce a report on whether she was sexually harassed or assaulted. In addition, court-ordered for a psychological evaluation also be produced. The CID said the Swiss Embassy employee was directed to a JMO before recording a statement from her when she arrived at the CID last evening. It was revealed in court, due to the absence of a female doctor, the Swiss Embassy employee had refused to appear before the JMO. The CID had instructed the Swiss Embassy employee to report to the CID today, to continue recording his statement. The CID informed court, she would be directed to the JMO once again today. President's Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma appearing for the woman in question said, local and international medical reports claiming his client was under severe mental stress, were produced to the court. The President's Counsel highlighted his client is the aggrieved party adding the investigations taking place are carried out against her. The Colombo Chief Magistrate ordered the Criminal Investigations Department to expedite the investigations.