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Dispute over Dharisha’s laptop: Court calls for Govt. Analyst’s report
Garnier Francis arriving at the court premises on Tuesday
The Government Analyst’s Department has been directed to submit a report on the contents of journalist Dharisha Bastians’s laptop seized by detectives probing the case against Swiss embassy employee Garnier Banister Francis who is accused of making false allegations against the government.
The order was given this week by Colombo’s Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) reported told the magistrate that the laptop of Ms Bastians, who has left the country, had been recovered from her residence at Polhengoda in Narahenpita on June 10 after a warrant was obtained to search the residence.
The CID told court that when its detectives had previously visited the house, Ms. Bastians’ father-in-law had insisted on a search warrant to allow them into the closed house.
However, lawyer Shiraz Noordeen watching the interests of Ms Basitans contested the CID’s claim that the laptop was taken into custody on June 10. He said it happened on June 4.
But the CID rejected his claim.
The court issued notice on Ms Bastian’s father-in-law Upali Indraguptha to verify the date the laptop was seized by the CID.
The court also ordered the Government Analyst to submit a report to court on whether the laptop had been tampered with during the period from June 4 to 10.
The court was also informed that the Government Analyst’s Department was yet to give its report on the mobile phone records of Ms Francis. Accordingly the court ordered that a reminder be sent to the Department.
Ms Francis was arrested on December 16 last year after she claimed that she was abducted, held for hours, sexually assaulted and threatened by unidentified persons who demanded disclosure of Swiss embassy-related information. She was later granted bail.
Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara appeared on behalf of the state while Upul Kumarapperuma appeared for Ms Francis.