SLA soldier in Batticaloa remanded for sexual assault of girl

[TamilNet, Friday, 12 September 2003, 22:28 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Army soldier who sexually assaulted a 13-year old girl in Pansala road in Batticaloa town was further remanded till September 25 by the Batticaloa Magistrate on Friday, court sources in Batticaloa said.

The SLA soldier was arrested by Sri Lanka Police on August 29 and produced before the Batticaloa Magistrate, Mr. A.H.M. Azmeer, on the charge of sexually assaulting a minor girl. The Magistrate then remanded him until September 12.

When the soldier was produced in court Friday, the girl was brought to the court from her home in Kegalle, also the soldier’s hometown. The Magistrate ordered that a medical examination for the girl be arranged and the girl should be handed over to her parents.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan police who are conducting an inquiry have arrested the girl’s elder sister, who is alleged to have helped the soldier's assault. When the girl's sister was produced before the Batticaloa Magistrate, he released her on a personal bond of Rs.10000, court sources said.