The police constable accused of assaulting a lawyer at the Mount Lavinia courts was released on bail and carried away by cheering supporters in a dramatic show of strength outside the courthouse.
The Mount Lavinia court yesterday released on bail the police constable who had been remanded over the alleged assault of a lawyer within court premises. The constable, who was arrested on October 10 following the heated altercation, had been held in protective custody until his court appearance.
Upon his release, the officer was greeted by an unusually large crowd of police officers, lawyers and members of the public who had gathered outside the courthouse. In an extraordinary scene, supporters carried him away on their shoulders, celebrating his return.
The court granted bail on two surety bonds of Rs. 100,000 each, allowing the constable to walk free pending further legal proceedings. The dramatic reception highlighted the deep divisions and rising tensions between the police force and the legal community following the incident.
Observers noted that the spectacle outside the courthouse underscored how the case has become more than a personal dispute, turning instead into a flashpoint in the wider struggle over respect, accountability and authority between law enforcement and the legal profession.
