Bakers fined by Court

16 July 2010 10:30 am

By T. Farook Thajudeen

Consumer Court Magistrate Lal Ranasinghe Bandara today imposed a fine of Rs 3750 on each of the 17 bakers who pleaded guilty for selling under weight bread to consumers.

The Flying Squad Division of Measurement Unit Standards Services Department apprehended the bakers in Colombo during a raid conducted on June 29.

The flying squad officers V.P. Sriyananda, D.G.H. Pattiyawela and G.G. Premasiri had conducted the random raid and arrested the  bakers who were  manufacturing and selling under weight bread to the consumers.

During the raid the team had also apprehended a pork stall owner who used an unstamped spring balance to weigh pork. He was imposed a fine of Rs 1500 by the Magistrate.

The prosecuting officers J. Saliya Harischandra informed court that they apprehended 21 suspects for allegedly selling under weight bread.

Subsequent to the raid they were ordered to appear before court today.  However three of the suspects had not adhered to the order and had absconded court.

The officer moved to issue an arrest warrant against the three absconding suspects. All the other 18 suspects pleaded guilty to the charges and they were imposed fines. The prosecuting officer J. Saliya Harischandra with C.K. Jayalath, K.A. P.V. Ratnapala H.A.D.K. Hettiarachchi and R.G. Perera prosecuted.