The National Zoological Gardens Director was summoned to appear in the Fort Magistrate’s Court on September 7 to give evidence in the case filed against Rosemary Felicia Perera who is also known as Jeena madam and is alleged to have possessed a leopard’s skin without a valid permit.  

The case was filed by the Divisional Vice Squad against Ms. Perera who is also the main suspect in the Kollupitiya Liberty Plaza brothel case.

Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne instructed the Court Registrar to issue summons on the Zoological Gardens Director to give evidence on his report issued by him with regard to the leopard skin.

The investigative officer who carried out the raid told in the cross-examination that he took into custody the leopard skin which was with Ms. Perera. In his evidence Sub Inspector Janak de Silva sent the skin to the National Zoological Gardens for a report.

Meanwhile, the defence counsel said the investigative officer had acted in an arbitrary manner by sending it to the National Zoological Garden without first obtaining a Court order. But the investigative officer said he had performed his duties in keeping with police regulations and the law of the land.

The Magistrate also issued summons on the police sergeant who transported the production items to the National Zoological Gardens director.

On September 23, 2009, 14 suspects including Ms. Perera were arrested by the Fort Divisional Vice Squad on charges of having operated a brothel.
Further Magisterial inquiry was postponed for September 7. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)