Fifteen year old girl forced into prostitution:

Court recommends Rs. 1m compensation

Sandasen MARASINGHE

Colombo High Court Judge Padma Palihakkara yesterday gave time to the defense to consider paying Rs one million as compensation to an underage victim girl who had been forced into prostitution by a woman employer.

The defence was instructed by the judge to consider the quantum of compensation and return to Court on January 23, 2009.

The Court ordered the accused Anne Devika Sanjeewani of Moddle Mount Road, Katubedda to consider paying the compensation of Rs one million to the 15 year old victim girl when the defense pleaded to end the case on the grounds of arriving at an amicable settlement with the victim by paying compensation. The defense made the plea when the prosecution wound up evidence.

At that stage the counsel for the prosecution submitted to the Court that at least compensation of Rs one million should be paid to the victim by accused.

The prosecuting counsel requested for a post-ponement of the defense leading evidence as the defense had decided to discuss with the accused the quantum of compensation to be paid to the victim informed to the Attorney General and then to submit it in the High Court.

According to the indictment the accused employed a 15 year old girl in prostitution between July 25, 2005 to December 31, 2005.

The victim in her statement to the Police said that her mother was employed abroad and her father was addicted to alcohol when she had to stop her studies at grade 10. She was cheated by her friend's husband and was later introduced to Devika Sanjeewani in Katubedda. Accused in her statement to the Police said she had two women employed in prostitution at the time of her arrest.

State Counsels Janaka Bandara and Iroma Nanayakkara appeared for the prosecution.