The Lawyers Collective wants the judge to step downYasaratne GamageSupreme Court Judge Justice Sarath De Abrew who allegedly assaulted a domestic helper with a pistol butt may face arrest or criminal charges.
According to Police Media Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara, the CID which handles the case will report the details of the case to the Mount Lavinia Magistrate seeking a directive from the court for further action.
Earlier the police sought to interview the Supreme Court judge in connection with the assault case, but refused to accede to the request.
Thereafter, the IGP had handed over the case to the Criminal Investigations Department for further investigations. The CID apparently has recorded a statement from the domestic helper who was subjected to alleged assault by the Supreme Court judge. The Police Media Spokesman also said the police refrained from arresting the Supreme Court judge, initially out of respect towards the judiciary, but would be compelled to act according to the directives of the Magistrate.
The whole drama began when the housemaid lodged a complaint with the Mount Lavinia Police stating that she had been subjected to pistol whips from Justice Sarath De Abrew on several occasions. She also stated in her complaint that since she started work at the residence of the judge she had been kept in detention.
The Mount Lavinia Police directed the woman to the Kalubowila hospital with a B form and provided woman constables security acceding a request by the Judicial medical Officer Meanwhile, Lawyers Collective Spokesman Krishantha Weliamuna told the Daily News that judges are not immune from the Criminal Justice System and that they have to face and accept the laws of the country like any other citizen.
He further said the judge in question had unacceptable bouts of behaviour in the past too. On an earlier occasion too, the judge in question had assaulted police officers but all cases were surreptitiously settled. It was also reported that he had thrown a bottle at another judge at an Indian Airport. Mr. Weliamuna said that the Lawyers Collective expects him to step down without further embarrassing other judges and citizens of the country