Danushka Gunathilaka granted bail in alleged sexual assault
Danushka Gunathilaka
Sri Lankan batter Danushka Gunathilaka has been granted bail while awaiting trial on charges of sexual intercourse without consent. As per the report by ESPNCricinfo, Gunathilaka has been banned from using Tinder and other social media accounts.
When the Sri Lanka team was in Australia for the T20 World Cup 2022, Gunathilaka was ruled out of the tournament following a hamstring injury. It was when he was arrested from the team’s hotel, Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Sydney on November 6 with charges of four counts of sexual intercourse.
Magistrate Janet Wahlquist granted Gunathilaka bail on Thursday in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court. He appeared there by an audiovisual link from Parklea jail.
But, police prosecutor Kerry-Ann McKinnon opposed the bail by saying that this can put the victim at risk because, “This man was in her home, they walked to the address together.” But Murugan Thangaraj SC, for Gunathilaka, said the cricketer had never been to the area, and they had walked for up to 15 minutes so, “How will he remember where she lived, in those circumstances, even if he wanted to?“
Danushka Gunathilaka has been banned from using Tinder and other social media accounts
The bail has been granted with AUD 150,000 and other conditions. Danushka Gunathilaka is not allowed to use Tinder or any other dating apps. He has been banned from using his existing social media accounts also.
According to the police fact sheet filed with the court, “The complainant tried to remove the accused’s hand by grabbing his wrist but the accused squeezed tighter around her neck. The complainant was fearing for her life and could not get away from the accused.”
It started after a match on Tinder. Both agreed to meet up for a date, and they headed back to her Rose Bay home. She accused the cricketer of refusing to wear a condom and even choking her three times. He has not yet given a plea and the case will return to court on January 12.
ALSO READ | “Utter nonsense”- Michael Vaughan on India being the favorites to win ODI World Cup in 2023
Gouri Das
(4697 Articles Published)