Kuliyapitiya Magistrate Bandula Wijesinghe on Friday (2) ordered a university lecturer accused of secretly installing a hidden camera in a staff restroom be remanded until May 15.
The 34-year-old suspect, a lecturer attached to the Department of Food Technology and Nutrition of the Faculty of Livestock Fisheries and Nutritionat Wayamba University, was produced before court by the Pannala Police.
Police told the court the lecturer had allegedly installed a sophisticated miniature camera with Wi-Fi connectivity beneath a washbasin in a restroom used by nine staff members, including seven women. The restroom, located within the university premises, was also occasionally used by the lecturers’ underage children, raising concerns over the potential distribution of sensitive footage to third parties.
The device was discovered after a female lecturer noticed a suspicious wire under the sink and alerted a colleague. The university authorities were informed and subsequently contacted police.
Police informed the court that the suspect, who has professional expertise in computing and networking, fled the university when the incident came to light but was later arrested. His laptop and mobile phone were also taken into custody as evidence.
Police, presenting a “B report,” requested a psychiatric evaluation, which the court granted. The suspect is to undergo assessment at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, with a mental health report to be submitted on a future date.
Opposing bail, police cited serious breach of privacy and flight risk. The defence counsel, however, argued that the allegations did not justify denial of bail under the Bail Act and pledged full cooperation with the investigation. The Magistrate declined to grant bail at this stage, citing the gravity of the offence.
All nine affected lecturers were present in court during the hearing.
By Upendra Serasinghe
from The Island https://ift.tt/bZSeHuz
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