Police look into possibility to file charges against Garnier for making fabricated statement

By Sandun A Jayasekera

The Police will consult the Attorney General on the possibility of filing charges against the Swiss embassy employee Garnier Banister Francis for giving a fabricated statement to the police on an alleged abduction and sexual assault on her on November 25, Cabinet spokesman, Plantation Industries and Agriculture Exports Minister Ramesh Pathirana said yesterday.   
Responding to  at yesterday’s cabinet news briefing, Minister Pathirana said the Police was convinced that she had made the allegation for unknown reasons and it was doubtful that even the Swiss embassy was aware of what she was doing.   

“It is quite obvious now that she has made up this story on her own. But we must go to the bottom of this sordid episode and find out who are behind this and why she resorted to this kind of fabrication. She has caused immense damage to the reputation of Sri Lanka and the good relations established between the Sri Lanka and Switzerland in particular and the international community in general” Minister Pathirana said.   

 During investigations, it was revealed that there were contradictions with the account given by her earlier to the effect that she was abducted by an unidentified group near the St. Bridget’s Convent in Colombo, who assaulted and threatened her to disclose “embassy-related information”. It has been reported that according to police sources that the statements made by her on three occasions were contradictory. Therefore legal action has to be taken after unearthing the truth related to this drama, Minister Pathirana said.