Swiss Embassy staffer Bannister gets two years’ RI, fine in abduction case

Swiss Embassy Staffer Garnier Bannister who allegedly provided false information to embarrass the government was yesterday sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment and suspended for 15 years by the Colombo High Court.

Furthermore, she was ordered to pay compensation of Rs.2 million to the government and imposed a fine of Rs.5,000 by the Colombo High Court.

The judgement was delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Namal Balalle, following the admission of the accused Garnier Bannister in open court that she is guilty of the relevant charges.The High Court Judge also ordered to lift the travel ban imposed on the accused and ordered her to release her foreign passport after paying the fine and compensation.

The Colombo High Court Judge also warned and informed that if such offences are committed after this, the suspended prison sentence will be implemented against her.

When the case was taken up yesterday, President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa appearing for the accused sought from the Court that the minimum sentence be given considering her health and mental conditions as she pleaded guilty to charge. Deputy Solicitor General General Janaka Bandara appearing on behalf of the Attorney General informed the Court that she has no previous offences.After considering the circumstances, the verdict was delivered by the Colombo High Court Judge Namal Balalle.

The Attorney General filed an indictment in the Colombo High Court against Swiss Embassy Staffer Garnier Bannister Francis over fabricating false evidence over an abduction of her by the CID officers. Garnier Bannister Francis, from Maligawatta worked at the Swiss Embassy had lodged a complaint that she was kidnapped and assaulted by five men in the Cinnamon Gardens (Kurunduwatta) area on November 25, 2019, sexually assaulted and detained for several hours after questioning the issuing of a visa to Nishantha Silva who worked as an Inspector at the CID. A second secretary of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Switzerland had lodged a written complaint with the Acting Inspector General of Police on November 27, 2019.

The CID had commenced investigations on the instructions of the Acting Inspector General of Police and the complaint stated that the abducted woman had been abducted while going to her child’s school that day.

During the investigation, the Garnier Bannister Francis was summoned to the CID for interrogation, but on her failure to do so, the Colombo Chief Magistrate, who had imposed a travel ban against her from travelling abroad and ordered her to appear before the CID before December 9.

Also, on December 16, 2019, on the instructions of the Attorney General, Garnier Bannister was named as a suspect in the case and the CID arrested her and produced her before court. Following that, she was remanded and was released on bail on December 30, 2019.