SOMARATANA: MONK IN COURT ACCUSED OF RAPE

A Buddhist monk charged with raping a nine-year-old girl appeared in court today.

Pahalagama Somaratana, 65, is alleged to have attacked the girl at The Chiswick Temple in Chiswick, west London, between January 1, 1977 and December 31, 1978.

Somaratana, the chief Buddhist monk for the Sri Lankan community, is also charged with three counts of indecently assaulting the girl, Feltham Magistrates’ Court heard.

Wearing traditional robes and a beige trench coat, Somaratana only spoke to confirm his name, address and age, during the hearing.

He was granted bail with conditions, but was later remanded as the Crown Prosecution Service lodged an appeal against the decision.

Prosecuting, Manjit Mahal told the court: ‘The defendant faces very serious allegations.

‘He holds a very important role in the community as a priest in the temple.

‘The victim contacted police in May 2010 to report that approximately when she was nine years old, she was abused on four separate occasions.’

Chairman of the bench, Mike Nicholls granted Somaratana bail on conditions that he must report to Croydon Police Station three times a week, live at the temple, and surrender his passport.

He must also have no contact with prosecution witnesses or any unsupervised contact with children and the monk has also been banned from discussing the case with anyone other than his lawyer.

Somaratana, who has been resident in the UK since 1981, travels to Sri Lanka twice a year where he runs a Buddhist training college, the court heard.

A preliminary hearing is due to take place at Isleworth Crown Court on October 3.

The bail decision appeal is set to be heard by a judge at the court early next week.

Somaratana, at Thames Buddist Vihara, in Dulverton Road, Croydon, south London, was remanded in custody.
 
ENDS