Sri Lanka arrests top judge over sex assault

COLOMBO

Sri Lanka police Tuesday made the first
ever  arrest of a Supreme Court judge
who was detained in connection with
a alleged sexual assault an official said.

Sarah de Abrew was arrested following
investigations into a complaint that he
tried to force a 39-year - old woman to
have a sex with him on the outskirts of
Colombo and beat her up when she ref
used a police official said,

The judge who is in his 60s was taken
before a magistrate who ordered his
release on personal bail of half a million
rupees ($3800) police said.

"The magistrate also ordered the judge
to cooperate with the  Criminal Invest
igations Department of the Police  and
make a statement a police official said.

"He had previously refused to make  a
statement to the police"
Victor Ivan an author who has written
extensively on the country 's judiciary
said it was the first time Sri Lanka's
history that a judge from the apex court
has been arrested .

Supreme court judge can only be removed
through a complicate impeachment
process in parliament Sri Lanka ,s parliament
was dissolved last month ahead of election
in August,