Five arrested over assault of boy in fishing trawler

The victim in hospital.

Camelia Nathaniel-Monday, August 17, 2020

Police arrested five persons over the physical abuse of a 16-year-old boy who had been employed on a fishing vessel as a helper while at sea, Police Media Spokesman SSP Jaliya Senaratne. Among those arrested was the owner of the trawler.

Addressing a media briefing yesterday, the Police Spokesman said that the 64-year-old boat owner and two of his assistants who had been on board the fishing vessel had been arrested on a complaint received that the boy who had been employed to assist on the fishing boat had been physically abused and harassed.

The multi-day fishing trawler had left the Sri Lankan shores on June 28 and returned on August 12 after 48 days.

The Police Spokesman said that the boy (16 years and one month) had been coerced into serving on the fishing trawler and while at sea the three men had assaulted the boy over their anger over the boy’s inability to hold on to a fish that had been caught.

Investigations have revealed that the boy had been tortured during the entire period the trawler was at sea, and he is currently receiving treatment for his injuries in hospital. The victim has also been subjected to a medical check and it has been determined by the injuries on his body that the child had been badly abused.

The other two suspects are a 27-year-old and 33-year-old who were also on the boat. Police arrested two more suspects identified as Dimuthu Sanjeewa, a resident of Nugagahahena, Mirissa and Dilan Maduranga, a resident of Bandaramulla.

The boy had been in good health prior to being taken onboard the fishing vessel and medical reports, a statement from the boy and medical examinations have confirmed that the child had been physically abused and grievous bodily harm had been inflicted. The suspects would be charged for causing grievous bodily harm to the child. The Police Spokesman also added that investigations are underway to determine if the boat owner had been using underaged children on his vessel to earn money and if it is proven, the police would seek the Attorney General’s advice on filing charges against the boat owner under money laundering. Police will take action to confiscate the fishing trawler if he is found guilty.

SSP Senaratne said the boy had complained of being sexually abused and he had been subjected to medical tests. Based on the medical report, the police would proceed to take appropriate action.

Further investigations are being conducted by the Kotavila Police under the directives of the Matara SSP.