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Danushka Gunathilaka's case: From facing rape charges to being denied bail; what we know so far
Here's what we know so far about Sri Lanka cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka's case.
Nov 07, 2022
Danushka Gunathilaka denied bail
Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka, who was part of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 squad, was earlier arrested in Sydney on Saturday on rape charges. The 31-year-old batter was denied bail after the hearing at a local court in Sydney on Monday.
Gunathilaka had been taken to Sydney City police station as part of an investigation of the alleged sexual assault of a 29-year-old woman.
So what do we know so far:
November 6:
- Danushka Gunathilaka had an injury three weeks ago and was out of the squad that played in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022.
- The Sri Lankan campaign in the 2022 T20 World Cup ended after their defeat against England.
- However, he was arrested in Sydney on Saturday on rape charges. The 29-year-old woman allegedly reported a sexual assault to police. The alleged attack apparently happened on Wednesday earlier in the week at a residence in Rose Bay, New South Wales.
- He was forced to remain in Australia and has been charged with four charges of sexual intercourse without consent.
- The Sri Lankan team, in fact, left for home on Sunday morning without him.
- According to South Wales police, in a statement said, "The woman met with the man after communicating with him for a number of days via an online dating application; it’s alleged he then sexually assaulted her on the evening of November 2, 2022. As part of ongoing investigations, a crime scene examination was undertaken by specialist police at an address in Rose Bay yesterday. Following further inquiries, a 31-year-old man was arrested at a hotel on Sussex Street, Sydney, shortly before 1 am today (Sunday, November 6, 2022)".
- "He was taken to Sydney City Police Station and charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent. The Sri Lankan national was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court via AVL [audio visual links] today," the statement further said.
- Later, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in a statement said, "In consultation with the (International Cricket Council), (we) will expeditiously initiate a thorough inquiry into the matter and take stern action against the player if found guilty," the statement said.
- The Sri Lankan government also reacted to the development and asked SLC to conduct an immediate investigation. "We have asked for an immediate investigation by SLC and submit a report," Amal Harsha de Silva, the top bureaucrat of the country's sports ministry, said.
November 7:
- Gunathilaka had appeared by video link in handcuffs at a Sydney Downing Centre Local Court on Monday. He tried to seek bail after he was charged with four counts of sexual assault.
- The cricketer's lawyer, Ananda Amaranath had made a bail application during the "closed court" hearing.
- However, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, the magistrate Robert Williams refused bail.
- "Certainly, we are considering an application to the Supreme Court and that will be done as soon as possible," Gunathilaka's lawyer, Amaranth, was quoted as saying in the Sydney Morning Herald report. "He (Gunathilaka) will be disappointed, clearly."
- Immediately after his bail application was rejected, the SLC Executive Committee "suspended Gunathilaka from all forms of cricket with immediate effect and will not consider him for any selections."
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