A man accused of groping two women and a female teen, while riding on public buses, has denied the allegations.
Appearing before the Grand Court of Friday, 24 Nov., Palinda Maduranga Dissanayake entered not guilty pleas to four counts of indecent assault.
The charges in relation to the two women allege that sometime between 1 Jan. 2023 and 1 April 2023, Dissanayake touched them on their breasts on separate and unrelated occasions.
The remaining two charges relate to a 15-year-old minor who alleges that on the 14 July, Dissanayake touched her on her leg and breast, while also travelling on a public bus.
The charges come after police issued a public appeal for people to come forward after police said they began receiving complaints of a “series of incidents where women have reported being inappropriately touched by another passenger while traveling on a public transport bus”.
During the brief Grand Court hearing on Friday, 24 Nov., Dissanayake’s attorney, Keith Myers, asked the court for the soonest date for an eight-day jury trial, as his client’s work permit had been revoked, and he is living on a friend’s couch and relying on their generosity.
The trial is expected to proceed during the Easter school mid-term break next year.
Dissanayake was released on strict bail conditions.
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