Temporary travel ban on Swiss Embassy staffer

3 December 2019 04:17 pm - 13 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today issued a temporary travel ban on the Swiss Embassy employee who was allegedly threatened by a group of unidentified men until December 9.

The Magistrate also directed the employee to provide a statement to the CID within that time.

When the case was taken up before Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne, the CID informed Court that the Swiss Embassy employee’s name was found to be Garnier Banister Francis but her current residence could not be located.

Representing the Attorney General’s Department, Senior State Counsel (SSC) Janaka Bandara informed the Magistrate that when the CID tried to get a statement from the Swiss Ambassador, Embassy officials had refused to provide any assistance.

“However, the Second Officer to the Ambassador, Rahul Imbatch had verbally provided a statement to the CID about the whole incident but the Embassy had failed to provide the necessary information about the particular employee,” a CID officer said.

SSC Janka Bandara said in the B report the CID had mentioned that the employee was a resident of an apartment at Maligakanda.

He said when the CID was conducting investigations at the apartment premises, the apartment security officer had told the CID officers that the employee’s mother had told the security guard that her family had left the apartment to go abroad.

“Investigations also revealed that during the day in which the incident had occurred the woman had attended a parent-teacher meeting at St. Bridget’s Convent and since she is currently missing, the CID had to record statements from the school staff as well,” SSC Bandara said.

Explaining the legal procedure to request a travel ban, he said according to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) Section 115, the CID had to continue its investigations into the matter.

“As mentioned in Section 115, the current situation is that investigations cannot be completed in twenty-four hours and Ms. Banister is missing from her residence,” SSC Bandara said.

He said the CID and the AG’s department could not prepare the legal documents since there was a lack of support from Ms Banister’s side and the issue has become a serious matter to the country.

“When we are trying to find her, she is not available. We want to know what exactly happened on that day and it is her responsibility to cooperate with us and solve this matter,” SSC Bandara said.

He said investigations had also revealed that the employee's husband, who is an officer at the Nations Trust Bank was also aware of the particular incident but his contact number was not working.

“We need to get a statement on whether she was actually abducted. If not, who had framed her to create such a story? There are several questions to be answered,” SSC Bandara said.

Considering the evidence the Magistrate had banned the embassy employee from leaving the country until December 9. (Yoshitha Perera)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 13

Mm Tuesday, 03 December 2019 04:25 PM

By now it’s obvious that she cooked up the story for personal gain. But it’s best she comes clean and came out with the truth or else she’d have to be running all her life.

Joe Tuesday, 03 December 2019 05:21 PM

As exactly as the asylum seekers do, taken the embassy and the swiss govt also on a good ride

Mm Tuesday, 03 December 2019 04:26 PM

This is why certain communities like to show that Sri Lanka bad and a dangerous Country so that they can run off to European countries.

Trend Follower Tuesday, 03 December 2019 04:47 PM

White Car will anser

Anmanpan Tuesday, 03 December 2019 05:01 PM

Sri Lanka is returning to the pre 2015 era. We asked for it and we are now getting it. Nice!

Human Being Tuesday, 03 December 2019 05:10 PM

Basic Human Rights Violated ! .

Lanka Tuesday, 03 December 2019 05:13 PM

Swiss chocolate vs Konda kavum

malini Tuesday, 03 December 2019 05:15 PM

It is surprising why she has to cook up a story when as an employee she has advantage in travelling to this country without much difficulty.

Lucrative Banish Tuesday, 03 December 2019 08:30 PM

Human smuggling the Swiss Way.

Kapil Tuesday, 03 December 2019 09:20 PM

But she doesn't have a right to LIVE there permanently. These traitors are now freaking out because Gota won, and are trying to run to their hiding holes. Switzerland today declared that the LTTE are not a criminal organization despite doing terrrorist activities, as in their opinion, LTTE was trying to be an 'independent ethnic community'. Hahah what a joke these Swiss people are! Even normal Sri Lankan tamils don't support the LTTE. So how are they the legitimate representatives of this so-called indepedent ethnic communit y? By that logic, SL army was fighting for the sovereignity of an independent ethnic community too. :) I can't WAIT for the Tamil Curse to start their nonsense in Switzerland. On that day, we will all laugh at the liberal naiviety and out-of-touch-ness of this silly European country which simply got Lucky in history.

Jack R Tuesday, 03 December 2019 09:29 PM

She seems to be known the treacherous part played by Swiss embassy,of smuggling out of politically motivated secret service officer to swizterland

Sam Panditha Tuesday, 03 December 2019 09:51 PM

Fundamental question: On what grounds can the Govt/Courts impose a travel ban on a Sri Lankan? In this case the lady in question has not made any complaint. Only the Swiss ambassador. Even if she was threatened at gun point, or raped, it is her own fundamental right to accept the damage of file a case. You cannot impose a travel ban for not filing a Police complaint.

Waka Tuesday, 03 December 2019 10:32 PM

Above comments show that a social media team suporting Gota is readily waiting to clense him of any wrong doing. They go to the extent of finding imaginary faults to blame the victim. Hope the legal system will remain independent as it was during the last 5 years. Dark times ahead for our country.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Temporary travel ban on Swiss Embassy staffer

Comments - 13

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

Confusion remains if April 15 is a bank holiday

April 15 declared a government holiday

23 year old youth ends up having his testicles removed

A US “Kaputa”, a Lankan “Nariya” and a Presidential “Feast”

New Visa procedure implemented

MIRROR CRICKET

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Wild elephants pull down 16 telephone poles

Middleman arrested for price gouging at Kalutara eatery

Bondholders’ agreement delay won’t hinder IMF third tranche payout: Dr. Coomaraswamy

Party leaders to shoot down MPs request for concessionary duty free vehicle permits

Hardik fined Rs 12 lakh for violating IPL code of conduct after win over Punjab Kings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings