Danushka Gunathilaka granted conditional bail, banned from Tinder
By Ruby Cornish
SYDNEY – A woman allegedly sexually assaulted by Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka has been the subject of “ongoing harassment” online, a Sydney court has heard.
Gunathilaka, 31, has been held in custody since his arrest in Sydney on November 6.
He was charged with four counts of sexual assault following an investigation by Sex Crimes Squad detectives into allegations made by a woman.
After 11 days behind bars, he was granted conditional bail following a hearing at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday (17).
As part of his bail conditions, Gunathilaka will be required to report daily to Eastwood police station, adhere to a curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. and surrender his passport.
He is not permitted to use Tinder or any other dating app, and can only access social media in the presence of a legal representative
On granting bail, Magistrate Janet Wahlquist said there was a “substantial incentive” for Gunathilaka to comply with his conditions.
The court heard a $200,000 surety was lodged in support of the cricketer’s release, including $50,000 of his own money, and $150,000 offered by a Melbourne woman.
“There is nothing that would indicate to me that he himself would further endanger the safety of the victim if he was granted bail,” Wahlquist said.
“The flight risk is quite clearly a real one … if surety is offered … that is a considerable amelioration of the risk of flight.”
The court has heard Gunathilaka and the woman had matched on a dating application on October 29 before agreeing to meet on November 2.
Police allege the pair consumed several drinks at venues in Sydney CBD before going back to the woman’s home.
The court has heard once there, Guntathilaka allegedly sexually assaulted the woman several times.
Court documents allege he also choked the woman during the incident, so forcefully she at one point “feared for her life”.
Police prosecutor Kerry-Ann McKinnon opposed bail in court on Thursday arguing Gunathilaka posed a serious flight risk.
She also told the court the alleged victim has been “hassled” online through social media.
“She has had to shut down all of her social media due to ongoing harassment,” McKinnon said.
“Her identity albeit suppressed, is known.”
Gunathilaka’s lawyers rejected the notion his client could flee the country, pointing to his sporting fame and media publication of the case.
The court heard he is being supported by the Sri Lankan Cricket Association and the Sri Lankan government.
The cricketer, who has represented his country in all international formats, was in Australia to play in the T20 World Cup at the time of his arrest.
An investigation was launched on November 1, after the woman reported the incident to police.
Gunathilaka was arrested at a hotel on Sussex Street as the Sri Lankan team were preparing to return home.
-abc.net.au
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.