Fmr SL diplomat found guilty of sexual assault in UK

21 November 2012 08:25 am - 42 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Former Sri Lankan MP Tudor Gunasekara, 77, who said he was one of Sri Lanka's leading businessmen, was fined at the Old Bailey today after being convicted of groping a masseur's breast.

But after he was found guilty of sexual assault, Judge Charles Wide QC ordered an investigation by the Legal Service Commission as to whether the former ambassador to Poland committed fraud.

Gunasekara had claimed he survived on just £100 a month from his state pension after transferring all his wealth to his son.

But Judge Wide said: "This is a serious inquiry. This man appears to be quite a rich man and the British taxpayers paid for his defence in a case where he was patently guilty.

"He was prepared for the British taxpayers to subsidise his defence."

He asked for the Legal Service Commission to investigate 'whether his legal representation order was obtained by fraud'.

Gunasekara, who is married with two children and a prominent member of the United National Party, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a masseur at a well known high street gym and spa in Wimbledon this May.

As he received a massage he reached out to grab the masseur breast as she kneaded his shoulders which caused the respectable and conscientious woman to flee pressing the panic button.

Prosecutor Robin Griffiths addressing the jury said: "You may think it was that close proximity between him and her at that late stage of a full Swedish massage when he simply lost his self restraint and groped her."

The jury took less than half an hour to find him guilty.

But Mr Griffiths added Gunasekara tried to blame the masseur saying "it was the therapist that made the improper proposal she could give him better service for an extra £50 on top of the already inflated figure he claimed she charged him at the beginning of the day before proceedings began."

He claimed he had paid £100 for a foot massage to relieve the pain in his foot because of the diabetes he suffered from for the last quarter of a century but the woman began giving him a full body rub before making the indecent proposal.

Gunasekara was ordered to pay a £1,000 fine, £1,000 compensation, prosecution costs of £1,250 and his defence costs estimated to be over £4,170.

Judge Wide QC added: "It was a really nasty offence.

"When good character is relied upon in your case, it does help me to understand what sort of man you are.

"What you did was really bad. To get yourself off the hook, and for no other reason, you accused this completely blameless sensible and conscientious woman of having stolen from her employer by keeping the money and getting more out of you by then offering you extra special services."

He said the woman masseur who worked as a beautician was "entirely respectable" as was the spa but Gunasekara made inappropriate remarks about her private life, asked her back to his hotel room, and then offered to read her palm as a means to get intimate with her.

When that failed he offered her money but when his advances were rejected, he lunged at her.

Judge Wide said: "It was obviously very, very upsetting for her. She fled from the room in high distress, pushing the panic button as she went."

Former Sri Lankan Ambassador Tudor Gunasekara was accused of "lying" to the Old Bailey and in his legal aid application about his wealth.

The court heard despite claiming he only had a £100 a month to live off, he had £1,850 and $631 in cash, and £50 worth of traveller's cheques when he was arrested for groping a masseur's breast.

Yet despite the sums readily at hand he pleaded poverty and got legal aid to fight his case.

Gunasekara had travelled to the UK to visit his grandchildren when he groped the masseur's breasts. In Sri Lankan he lives on a 25 acre estate complete with servants.

Judge Wide QC exploded with rage when he learnt of the legal aid funding adding: "The British public would be appalled to know they are paying for this man's costs - one of Sri Lanka's leading successful businessmen and government minister and ambassador to Poland and he say's he's got no money.

"I think it is a lie, I think it is one of a number of lies he told in this court.

"Frankly I don't think the British public should pay a penny to this."

As well as being ordered to pay £7,420 in fines, compensation and legal costs, with £15 victim's surcharge, the country's first ambassador to Poland, Bulgaria, Rumania and Hungary was ordered to be placed on the sex offenders register.

Speaking outside court Det Con Jamie McIntosh said: "The time the jury took is illustrative of the incredible defence he put forward.

"The victim has been consistent and I am happy she can now move on and put this all behind her knowing justice has been done.

"The Met Police take every allegation of sexual assault seriously and will investigate it thoroughly no matter what the social status of the suspect." (The Telegraph)

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Comments - 42

Civilian Wednesday, 21 November 2012 04:29 PM

Such a shame...

Sanje Wednesday, 21 November 2012 10:46 AM

At 77 if the women offered full body rub.

Ramzeel Wednesday, 21 November 2012 10:55 AM

Older the Bull Stronger the Horn

Most Wanted Wednesday, 21 November 2012 10:55 AM

A small town would survive for the fine he has paid there.......

mamath Wednesday, 21 November 2012 11:05 AM

every train too..at the request of ladies..gents are invited..

dave Wednesday, 21 November 2012 11:08 AM

For a man in U.K. is a simple thing. I do not know why this story come all about to reach courts.
Shame man.

LankanFellow1com Wednesday, 21 November 2012 11:09 AM

Now everything is paid by the citizens..

wac Wednesday, 21 November 2012 11:24 AM

I should stop patronising SPAs in UK

Sareek Wednesday, 21 November 2012 11:56 AM

Bold and beautiful

RajasH Wednesday, 21 November 2012 02:10 PM

hats off to you man at the age of 77 wow

Junior Citizen Wednesday, 21 November 2012 02:26 PM

He has disgraced the party- WHO SENT HIM AS A DIPLOMAT ?

Sulaimaan Wednesday, 21 November 2012 10:43 AM

It shows that even in a country where such immoral actvities are legalized, it does not help reduce anything.

sahdi Wednesday, 21 November 2012 04:31 PM

IF HE IS GO TO KOLLUPITIYA MASSAGE CLINIC....... THIS WAS SIMPLE AND COMMON....

Naman Wednesday, 21 November 2012 04:52 PM

He must have been selected on his 'merits' to be an Ambassador. The current situation in Sri Lanka is worse than this.

kasun Thursday, 22 November 2012 02:39 AM

Shame on you!

bandara Thursday, 22 November 2012 03:25 AM

once a srilankan always a srilankan

ashok Thursday, 22 November 2012 03:54 AM

Naughty 77

Fayad Thursday, 22 November 2012 04:06 AM

Legalize prostitution in sri lanka to help this kind people

Masseur Thursday, 22 November 2012 06:40 AM

Aiyo ! you shoul've come to a sri lankan SPA to enjoy additional service. hassel free service, no legal issues.

Mason Thursday, 22 November 2012 06:49 AM

You selected the wrong girl to grab. Better luck next time grampa.

D.jayasundera Thursday, 22 November 2012 12:10 PM

Well documented.

mamath Wednesday, 21 November 2012 09:46 AM

Being a businessman, may be he was doing a market survey for a brassier company & taking sample measurements at random.

Guru Wednesday, 21 November 2012 08:54 AM

If SL had an independent and impartial judicial system as in the UK, we could reduce corruption in our country.

Tharaka Chanaka Wednesday, 21 November 2012 08:58 AM

This is what happens when "Banda" is sent to town....they cant behave themselves.

NAMAL PAVITHRA Wednesday, 21 November 2012 09:01 AM

Punishment must match the crime !!, (Let the time match the crime.)

honestly Wednesday, 21 November 2012 09:04 AM

This is what you get playing Sri Lankan pranks in the UK or other countries. Reflection of Sri Lankan culture!

Abdul Wednesday, 21 November 2012 09:13 AM

Oh, This happens everyday in the bus

Silva Wednesday, 21 November 2012 09:28 AM

this is what Wikipaedia says...

Tudor Gunasekara was born on 23 January 1935 to a well known family in Heiyantuduwa, Biyagama. He had his early education at Ananda College, Colombo. Tudor Gunasekara was the second son of William Gunasekara (also known as 'Heiyantuduwa Ralahami') and Eugine Seneviratne. William Gunasekara was a wealthy landed proprietor and owned fourteen elephants.

Kool Wednesday, 21 November 2012 09:28 AM

Media will barely even state the name of the person if this happened in Sri Lanka.

kumara Wednesday, 21 November 2012 09:34 AM

If this happened in Sri Lanka, the woman would have been punished!!

Game Kolla Wednesday, 21 November 2012 09:44 AM

If this happened in sri lanka....that lady would have been in trouble...( she was groping herself)

mamath Wednesday, 21 November 2012 09:44 AM

If we legalize prostitution as proposed, can Sri Lankans grope the breast of any woman?

pol haraka Wednesday, 21 November 2012 08:53 AM

ha ha lives off 100 pounds.... but can get a foot massage for $100 pounds from a high end gym and spa and stays at a hotel.

and is the former diplomat to polland shame on sri lanka

PIKA Wednesday, 21 November 2012 09:56 AM

British taxes are very high.
Badu saranai

Adi Wednesday, 21 November 2012 09:57 AM

poor old man..he must have gone crazy after seeing everything...he's wrong though.

Adil Wednesday, 21 November 2012 09:56 AM

Come on Sri Lanka. Ohoma yang

lk Wednesday, 21 November 2012 10:00 AM

wow, what a system of justice! it's a dream for us.

CricketPissek Wednesday, 21 November 2012 10:05 AM

Maybe £100 in this imaginary land can be converted to Rs 7500. This seems to be the monthly requirement

Paul Albert Wednesday, 21 November 2012 10:04 AM

At the age of 77

citizen silva Wednesday, 21 November 2012 10:23 AM

he should have gone with the diffence that he couldnt remember!!!! after all 77 years isnt young either.

citizen silva Wednesday, 21 November 2012 10:24 AM

thats how the cookie has crumbled!!!!

Chandi Bandi Wednesday, 21 November 2012 10:24 AM

AMMATA HUDU! Must be a maara pervert.

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Fmr SL diplomat found guilty of sexual assault in UK

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