Umaria Case: Court orders charge sheet against DJ

18 March 2013 01:44 am

A Colombo Court ordered the Fort police to file a charge sheet against the DJ of an English radio station for allegedly harassing the Sri Lankan pop, R&B and jazz singer Umaria Sinhawansa in a car park of the World Trade Centre in Colombo.

When the case came up before Colombo Fort Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya, the suspect Ramsey Jaynoor was present in Court.

Making a complaint with the Fort Police Children and Women’s Bureau, the complainant Ms. Umariya informed that she had participated in a television programme at a private television station, along with vocalist Bhathiya Jayakody. She said when they were returning to the car park around 11.00 pm on November 2, 2012, the suspect had allegedly harassed her by obstructing her path and pulling her hand. 

The singer further said though vocalist Bhathiya advised the suspect to refrain from such behaviour, the suspect had disregarded it.

The complainant further alleged that when she got into the car, the suspect prevented her from moving the vehicle. She also told police that she had known the suspect for a period of two months adding that subsequent to another complaint lodged by her, the Thalangama police had filed a case against him over assaulting her.

However, the defence counsel who appeared for the suspect denied the allegations against his client and maintained that the complainant was his client’s girlfriend and that they were in a romantic relationship for a period of one year.

Having considered the submissions, the Magistrate ordered that a charge sheet be filed against the suspect on May 3.

Meanwhile, the Children and Women’s Bureau attached to the Fort police alleged that the suspect had committed a punishable offence which came under Section 345 of the Penal Code. The vocalist Jayakody Kankanamlage Bhathiya and several security officers attached to the World Trade Centre had been named as the witnesses by police.  (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)