SL cricketer Gunathilaka granted bail in Sydney sexual assault case
The Hindu
Danushka Gunathilaka was arrested from his team hotel by Sydney police during the T20 World Cup, even as other members of the Sri Lankan squad returned home.
Sri Lanka cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka was on Thursday granted bail but banned from using his social media accounts while awaiting trial on charges of alleged sexual assault of a woman during the team's T20 World Cup campaign in Australia.
According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, the now-suspended batter appeared in Sydney's Downing Centre court via video link from Parklea Correctional Centre, where he had been in custody since being refused bail on November 7.
The 31-year-old Gunathilaka was arrested in Sydney in the wee hours of November 6 following an investigation into alleged sexual assault of a woman on November 2, even as the team flew out of the country after being eliminated in the Super 12 stage.
"Magistrate Janet Wahlquist granted Gunathilaka bail on Thursday in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court, where he appeared via an audiovisual link from Parklea jail," the report said.
"Police prosecutor Kerry-Ann McKinnon opposed bail on the grounds Gunathilaka is a flight risk and that he could endanger the safety of the complainant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons."
Gunathilaka is facing four counts of sexual intercourse without consent and has not yet given a plea.
Besides a ban on using Tinder, social media and dating applications, the bail conditions include a AUD 150,000 ($100,620) surety, surrender of passport, twice daily police reporting, a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., and not contacting the complainant.