The Colombo High Court today, January 24, sentenced the owner of a spa to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment after he was found guilty of exploiting three young Indonesian women by trafficking them to Sri Lanka under the false pretense of offering jobs as therapists.
The defendant’s actions led to the women being forced into prostitution. The sentencing was handed down by Colombo High Court Judge Adithya Patabendige after a prolonged hearing of the case.
Along with the prison sentence, the court also ordered the convict to pay Rs. 250,000 in compensation to each of the three women, totaling Rs. 750,000. Failure to pay the compensation within the specified time will result in an additional year being added to his sentence.
The accused was arrested during a raid by the Walana Anti-Corruption Unit in 2021. Following his arrest, the Attorney General filed charges against him in the Colombo High Court, which included three serious offenses. After thorough hearings, the court found that the charges were proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Despite the defendant’s legal team requesting a more lenient sentence, Judge Patabendige emphasized the gravity of the crime, stating that the defendant’s actions had tarnished the reputation of the country and that such offenses could not be overlooked.
