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Swiss embassy employee arrives at CID for third consecutive day

The Swiss embassy employee arrived at Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for the third time to record her statement regarding her abduction and assault on November 25. 

The victim was also produced before the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) for the second time. 

Earlier today, Switzerland's government released a statement criticising Sri Lanka’s media, warning that the “current media coverage in Colombo might harm the relationship between the two countries." A spokesperson from the Swiss Foreign foreign affairs department added that media coverage around the case may also hamper progress in investigations. 

A travel ban was extended by Colombo's Chief Magistrate, officially barring the victim from leaving Sri Lanka until December 12 while it conducts its investigation.

On November 25, the Swiss embassy employee was abducted, assaulted and threatened by unidentified men who "forced her to unlock her cellphone data, which contained information about Sri Lankans who have recently sought asylum in Switzerland, and the names of Sri Lankans who aided them as they fled the country because they feared for their safety after Gotabaya Rajapaksa won the presidency in elections this month," the New York Times reported. Before releasing her, they reportedly threatened to kill her if she told anyone of her ordeal.

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