A 47-year-old man from Canberra, accused of exposing himself to a young girl in a public park, has been released on bail amid ongoing legal proceedings. Asanka Nanayakkara, a Sri Lankan national, faces three serious charges including indecent assault, common assault, and committing an act of indecency. The alleged incidents reportedly occurred in April.
The victim, a 12-year-old girl, was reportedly fishing at a pond in Bonner when she saw a man she did not know expose himself. Police allege that after the initial incident, Nanayakkara sat beside her and committed an act of indecency. Although the report was filed at the time, it took extensive police investigation to identify and locate him.
Nanayakkara was arrested at his workplace on Friday and later appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court. Prosecutors opposed bail, citing concerns over potential reoffending, interference with evidence, and the risk of him not attending court. However, his lawyer described the allegations as “disturbing and bizarre,” and argued that strict conditions could mitigate concerns.
The court heard that Nanayakkara had been living in his car but was employed. His employer’s manager attended the hearing and offered him a place to stay. Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker acknowledged the seriousness of the charges but ultimately approved bail conditions deemed sufficient to prevent any issues.
As part of the bail conditions, Nanayakkara is banned from the suburb of Bonner, ordered to reside with his employer, and must surrender his passport. The case is scheduled to return to court in July.
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