A Sri Lankan immigrant has been released on bail after being charged with allegedly exposing himself to a 12-year-old girl in Canberra and indecently assaulting her.
Asanka Nanayakkara, 47, was arrested at his workplace on Friday and charged with indecent assault, common assault and committing an act of indecency, ABC News reported.
Police allege the girl was fishing in a pond in the suburb of Bonner in April when Nanayakkara exposed himself before sitting next to her and indecently assaulting her. She reported the alleged incident but Nanayakkara was only allegedly identified and tracked down after an extensive investigation.
Nanayakkara’s lawyer told the ACT Magistrates Court the alleged offences were “disturbing and bizarre”, but said any concerns about granting her client bail could be addressed with strict conditions.
Prosecutors opposed bail, arguing there was a risk of reoffending and that Nanayakkara would interfere with witnesses or not show up to court, but Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker disagreed.
She said that while the allegations were concerning, she was satisfied with a set of planned conditions.
Under the bail conditions Nanayakkara is banned from the suburb of Bonner, must live with his employer – who turned up to court to offer a place to stay – and surrender his passport.
Nanayakkara, who the court heard had been living in his car, will face court again in July.
Header image credit: ACT Courts.
