Wednesday Nov 27, 2024
Wednesday Nov 27, 2024
Wednesday, 14 December 2022 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By T. Farook Thajudeen
The third officer of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Oman, E. Kushan who was in remand custody in connection with the human trafficking scam has been granted bail.
The suspect was released on a cash bail of Rs. 100,000 with two sureties for Rs. 1 million on each of the surety by Colombo Chief Magistrate Nandana Amarasinghe yesterday.
The suspect E. Kushan, the Third Officer in the Embassy was remanded till yesterday after being produced before the Magistrate Court by the officers of the Criminal Investigation Department following his arrest at the arrival terminal of the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake on his arrival from Muscat, Oman.
The CID officers making submissions before the court submitted that the suspect was the Officer in charge to inquire about matters and grievances relating to the complaints made by Sri Lankan migrants in Oman for employment.
However, the suspect instead of performing his official duties had sexually harassed the Sri Lankans at the Embassy office in Oman.
The Detectives said that another team of officers had already gone to Oman to investigate the complaints and at present, there are another 97 Sri Lankan women employees living in the Embassy Transit Office seeking repatriation. They also said that already five women employees had returned to Sri Lanka from Oman.
The detectives further said that the suspect was arrested over allegations of sexual harassment and human trafficking of women to Oman and moved to remand the suspect further as the investigations were not yet concluded.
Counsel Shanika Ranasinghe PC appearing for the suspect stated that the allegation against his client was baseless and the suspect had not been involved in the trafficking of women to Oman and had not even employed them in prostitution. He said the allegations against his client are bailable and which should be inquired by an Oman Court since the offences were committed there and pleaded to release his client under any bail condition.
The Magistrate released the suspect on bail and fixed further inquiry for 25 April 2023.
