Schoolgirl petitions Supreme Court against illegal arrest

... claims police forced her to complain against Akuressa PS chairman

April 10, 2013, 12:00 pm 

By Chitra Weerarathne

A 15-year-old schoolgirl and her mother have filed a fundamental rights violation application in the Supreme Court claiming that an Inspector of the Matara police station had taken the girl into police custody in July 2012 and insisted that she tell the police officers that she had been sexually abused by the Chairman of the Akuressa Pradeshiya Sabha.

When the girl insisted that no such incident occurred, the inspector had forcibly got her to sign a document, the contents of which were not read out to her.

The first petitioner had said that all she knew about the Chairman of the Pradeshiya Sabha was that her father supported his candidature at the elections.

The petition claimed that the girl had been arrested without a valid reason being given and had been kept in police custody for about a week, without being produced before a Magistrate. The Human Rights Commission had intervened to get her released from police custody, it said.

The petition has requested the Court to declare the violation of the girl’s right to freedom from illegal arrest, illegal detention and the right to freedom from inhuman treatment.

She has claimed Rs. 10 million in compensation from the first respondent, Police Inspector Bogahawatte.

On March 19, the petition was support in Court by Sanjeewa Ranaweera.

Leave to proceed was granted and hearing was fixed for October 21, 2013.

Senior State Counsel, Lakmali Karunanayake appeared for the Attorney General.

The Bench comprised Justices N. G. Amaratunga, Priyasarth Dep and Eva Wanasundara.