Jeena madam’s case: Zoo Director summoned to give evidence

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

The Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday issued summons on the Director of the National Zoological Garden to appear in Court on 7 September to give evidence in connection with the case filed against Rosemary Felicia Perera alias ‘Jeena madam’ for allegedly possessing a leopard’s skin without a valid permit.  

The Divisional Vice Squad had filed a case against Perera, the main suspect who allegedly managed a brothel at the Kollupitiya Liberty Plaza complex and possessed a leopard’s skin in her possession without a valid permit.

The investigative officer who carried out the raid told in the cross-examination that he was able to take into custody a skin of leopard from the possession of the accused. Giving evidence in connection with the incident, Sub Inspector Janak de Silva told Court that when he raided the brothel on 23 September 2009 he recovered the skin of a leopard from the possession of the accused and sent it to the National Zoological Garden for a report.

Meanwhile, defence maintained that the investigative officer had carried out the raid in an arbitrary manner by directly sending it to the National Zoological Garden without having a Court order.

However, the investigative officer denied the allegation and informed Court that he performed police duties in accordance with police regulations and law. Meanwhile, the Magistrate also issued summons on a police sergeant who carried the production items to the National Zoological Garden director in order to obtain a report.

On 23 September 2009, 14 suspects including Rosemary Felicia Perera were arrested by the Fort Divisional Vice Squad for allegedly providing women for prostitution.