Swiss Embassy official ordered to undergo psychiatric examination, travel ban extended

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday extended until 17 December the overseas travel ban imposed on the Swiss Embassy officer at the centre of the controversy regarding an alleged abduction, and ordered her to undergo a psychiatric examination yesterday.

The case relating to the alleged abduction of a Swiss embassy officer was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne.

The alleged abduction victim, a Swiss Embassy local staffer, who is said to have been abducted by an unidentified group on 25 November and assaulted, has been produced at the Office of the Chief Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) in Colombo according to a Court Order. Senior State Counsel Janaka Bandara told Court that accordingly, a forensic examination has been conducted.

The Senior State Counsel told the court that the Judicial Medical Officer decided that it is appropriate to submit a report by a team of specialist psychiatrists about the alleged abduction victim’s mental health. He requested the Court to order her to be referred to a specialist psychiatric team and to obtain a report.

The Colombo Chief Magistrate accepting the request ordered the JMO to present the alleged abduction victim to a specialist psychiatric team for evaluation and obtain a report.

Responding to a question raised by the Magistrate, the Senior State Counsel informed the Court that according to the Order, she could be referred for a psychiatric examination tomorrow and a report on the matter would be submitted to court on 17 December.

Accordingly, the magistrate has ordered the extension of the travel ban on the alleged abduction victim until the progress of the investigations is presented in court on 17 December.

Attorney-at-law Upul Kumarapperuma representing the alleged abduction victim told the court that his client had been making statements to the CID for several days and that she was not in good health.

The Attorney requested the Court to inform Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Attorney General’s Department to explore the possibility of questioning her at the Swiss Ambassador’s official residence.

Senior State Counsel Janaka Bandara however, opposed the request.

The Chief Magistrate told the Court that the Swiss Ambassador’s official residence is a territory of another state and that legal issues can be arisen in accordance with Sri Lankan law when making statements there. The magistrate stated that it is appropriate to record the statements at the CID.

After considering the submissions, the magistrate ordered that the case be called on 17 December.

Janaka Bandara appeared on behalf of the government and a panel of lawyers appeared on behalf of the alleged abduction victim.

The Criminal Investigation Department has recorded several statements from the alleged abduction victim. She has also undergone a forensic examination to ascertain whether she has been assaulted or sexually abused.