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Tight security for Scotsman in Malaka Silva assault case
View(s):Tight security is expected as the Scotsman at the centre of an assault case against former Minister Mervyn Silva’s son Malaka Silva, arrives at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (25), when the case is to be taken up.
James Casserly (44) will be in court regarding the alleged assault on a foreign couple by Malaka Silva at a nightclub two years ago.
A senior officer at the Kollupitiya police said they will provide security to the Scotsman during the case.
The incident had occurred at a Colombo nightclub on the night of October 31, 2014, when Malaka Silva had allegedly groped 24-year-old Belinda Mackenzie on the dance floor. When she had tried to resist his advances, Mr. Silva is alleged to have struck her, prompting her partner Mr Casserly to intervene. He had allegedly punched Malaka in the face during the scuffle, knocking him to the ground, whereupon several of Mr. Silva’s bodyguards had allegedly proceeded to assault Mr Casserly.
Police complaints were subsequently lodged by both parties claiming they had been assaulted.
Mr. Casserly, who had been living in Sri Lanka at the time, while employed as an engineer, was quoted in the British press as saying that, the subsequent attention he received after the incident resulted in him losing his ‘dream job’, as his employers were disturbed by the publicity. He alleged that he received threats to drop the case against Malaka.
Mr. Casserly further alleged that the injuries he received during the assault had left him with impaired vision.