Karaoke hostess found holding snake within supermarket

Jayantha DE SILVA

Police are probing to ascertain why a young Karaoke hostess who was found in the precincts of a supermarket complex in Colombo early yesterday morning was holding a snake by its head.

The agitated woman was taken into custody by the Police. She was accompanied by an employee of the Karaoke who was questioned by Police. The woman had a bleeding wound in her forearm which she was unable to explain, but, Police suspect that the agitated reptile had bitten her .

A basket with a baby snake and a bag containing clothing was also taken into custody. The woman was working as a Karaoke hostess which the residents complain is a source of disturbance to the neighbourhood, with loud music emanating till the wee hours of the morning in contravention of the Noise Pollution Act. On the spot questioning by Police as witnessed by this reporter revealed that the woman had kept the reptiles in a basket in the Karaoke bar for a long period.

Investigations are being conducted by SI S.G.Kumarasinghe to ascertain whether the reptiles were kept to be used for a sinister purpose. The suspect is to be produced in the Colombo Magistrate's Court. Retention of reptiles is an offence under the Flora and Fauna Act.

However, an exception is made to the gypsies who earn a living by exhibiting reptiles.