Pomersbach granted bail in Delhi

Cricketer ‘relieved’ but face allegations of molestation, assault in India.

NEW DELHI:

Australia’s Luke Pomersbach, part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad in the IPL, was granted bail by a New Delhi court following accusations that he molested a woman and beat up her fiance, said his lawyer.

The 27-year-old batsman, who has one cap for Australia, faces up to two years in jail if found guilty of molestation and assault after the incident during an after-game party at the swanky ITC Maurya Hotel in the Indian capital. The cricketer has denied the charges against him.

His lawyer, Ajay Bhargava said, “He has received bail, on condition that he surrenders his passport and pays a surety of INR30,000 on each charge.”

He added that the court ruled that ‘a trespassing charge cannot be maintained’ against Pomersbach after CCTV footage filmed outside the alleged victim’s room proved inconclusive on whether the cricketer had forcibly entered her suite.

“I am happy that I have been granted bail and looking forward to getting to the bottom of it,” a visibly relieved Pomersbach told reporters outside the court.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2012.