Karaoke hostess arrest : suspect did not have mental disorder symptoms

Sarath MALALASEKERA

Colombo magistrate and additional district judge Kaviska Wijeratne yesterday directed Kollupitiya Police to obtain reports from the JMO and Dehiwela Zoological Gardens director in connection with investigations into the case against a karaoke hostess who had a snake in her possession.

The judge made this order on an application by Sergeant R M P Rajapakse of Kollupitiya Police. At the outset, President’s Counsel Rienzie Arasacularatne, senior counsel for the suspect submitted that the Police are unable maintain the charges against his client as the charges are not under the Cruelty to Animals Act.

The Police produced a report from the Forensic Psychiatry Unit. It is stated that the suspect was examined on September 9, 2012 at the Colombo National Hospital room No 22.

The report stated the suspect did not have symptoms suggestive of a mental disorder during the period of assessment. The clinical information also indicates that the accused had no symptoms of a mental disorder in the past. She denied using psychoactive substances. The clinical feature indicates that she does not derive sexual pleasure by associating with snakes.

She did not develop features of grief following the separation from the snake indicating that there has not been a strong emotional attachment towards the snake, the report said. President’s Counsel Rienzie Arasacularatne with Attorney Thejith Koralage, Sudarshini Gunaratne, Nimal Ranawake and RMP Ranawake appeared for the suspect. The case will be called on October 11.