Swiss Embassy staffer indicted for making a false complaint

Wednesday, 10 March 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Swiss Embassy employee Ganiya Bannister Francis was yesterday indicted under the Penal Code by the Colombo High Court for allegedly making a false claim that she has been abducted and sexually harassed.

She has been accused of lying to embarrass the Government and fabricating evidence in her abduction claim.

Defendant Ganiya Barrister Francis appeared in Court when the case was called yesterday. The indictments filed by the Attorney General was then handed over to the accused in High Court Number 3 presided over by Judge Namal Balalle. Afterwards, the Court ordered that the accused be released on bail.

The case is set to be heard on 4 June, at which time the indictments will be read and the Court will set a date for the trial.

Francis claimed that on 25 November 2019, five persons in a white vehicle abducted her in the Cinnamon Gardens area in Colombo, threatened her with a firearm, detained her for several hours and questioned about CID Inspector Nishantha Silva who had fled the country.

The case was filed by the Attorney General against the accused, alleging that she had made a false complaint to the CID.