Chinese woman fined Rs. 150,000

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

A Chinese woman who was accused of having more than 10 packs of illegally imported cigarettes in her possession was ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 150,000 by a Colombo Court yesterday.

The accused was arrested by the Kollupitiya police at a business outlet in Deanstone Place, Colombo 3 with 300 illegal cigarettes.

When the accused was produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne, she pleaded guilty to the charge. However, defence counsel who appeared on behalf of the accused told court that his client had possessed the concerned cigarette for her own consumption.

Finally, the Magistrate ordered the Chinese woman that a fine of Rs. 150,000 be paid for the charge.