Man remanded over sexual abuse of 12-year-old niece

By Bhagya Silva   

A man was ordered to be remanded till September 3 in connection with sexually abusing his brother’s 12-year-old daughter, by Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Ratnayake.   
It was revealed in court that the child’s mother had abandoned both her daughter and husband, leaving the victim to live with her father and grandmother. The little girl told her teacher that her uncle had shown her obscene material and touched her inappropriately.   
After that, the teacher lodged a complaint with the Children and Women’s Bureau, stating that the child had been subjected to repeated inappropriate touching over a period of time. 
The Bureau filed charges under section 345 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes sexual harassment or abuse by word or deed or through the use of criminal force.   
Officials of the Bureau further informed court that the child could no longer remain under the custody of her father and grandmother, while the suspect’s wife had allegedly threatened the complainant teacher.   
After considering all the submissions, the Magistrate ordered the suspect to be remanded till September 3.   
In addition, on this day, the Children and Women’s Bureau had filed more than five cases under allegations of sexual abuse.