NCPA to probe alleged harassment case of minor girl
The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) reported yesterday (19) to Colombo Additional Magistrate Keminda Perera that an investigation is being conducted against the Maththegoda Police regarding an incident of harassment caused to a minor girl by pressuring her to plead guilty to a case of theft of gold jewellery worth Rs.500,000.
Stating that the investigations have been started, the Child Protection Authority stated that it had obtained statements from several officers of the Maththegoda Police.
The NationalChild Protection Authority told the court that the police did not use proper procedures for arresting the girl and threatened to put the girl on probation and told her to take the blame for the theft.
The authority stated that the relevant college had submitted a certificate that the girl went to school on the day of the theft, and the police did not check the girl’s birth certificate either.
The Child Protection Authority informed the court that the police, who have named this girl as the first suspect in the theft that took place at a relative’s house, also ignored the girl’s age.
After considering the relevant matters, the Magistrate ordered the Child Protection Authority to conduct investigations and arrest the suspects and present them to the court.