Police ordered to file charge sheet against woman arrested for keeping cobra

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

The Colombo Fort Magistrate yesterday ordered the Colpetty Police that a charge sheet be filed against the woman arrested on charges of having kept a cobra in a room at a Colpetty night club on the next hearing date.

At a previous magisterial inquiry, Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne had directed the Police to file a charge sheet yesterday, but it had not been done.

When the case came up before Court, the Magistrate observed that he would grant another two weeks to the Police to file a charge sheet or file a B report mentioning the relevant charges with which they were going to proceed.

President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsakularatne appearing for the suspect Nirosha Wimalaratne alias Dilani argued that his client had not committed any offences under any law and said his client was claiming for the cobra which was currently held under the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens custody.

Having heard the submissions, Colombo Fort Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne directed that Police file a charge sheet against the suspect on 25 October.  

In this case, in a complaint to the Colpetty Police, a security officer of the Cleopatra Night Club in Colombo 3 said the woman employee of the night club had kept a cobra with her for two days.

He said he was compelled to lodge the complaint because the other women who were inside the room were frightened by the woman with the cobra.

The Colpetty Police who investigated the matter arrested the woman on charges of having violated the provisions of Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance and the Prevention of the Cruelty to Animal Ordinance. Police seized the cobra and later handed it over to the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens.

President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsakularatne with Wasantha Batagoda, Nimal Ranawaka, R.A.P. Ranawaka, and Sudarshani Gunaratne appeared for the suspect.

Sergeant Ekanayake, Sub Inspector Dissanayake and Sergeant Samarakoon of the Colpetty Police prosecuted.